Qatar 2015 Concludes Schools Programme with a Mini Tournament

Students in Qatar Instilled with a Lasting Interest in Handball

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar 2015 Organising Committee has completed the final phase of the Schools Programme with a Mini Tournament that took place on 5-6 December at the Duhail Handball Sports Hall.

Teams of children aged 13-15 represented 16 participating schools and competed through several knock-out rounds of matches on both days.Al Doha Prep. won the tournament after defeating Tunisian School with a final score of 12:10 as parents and friends cheered. Abdulla Bin Ali Al – Misnad Prep.came in third position after playing against Egyptian School with the winning score of 6:3.

The first, second and third position teams were presented with awards during the final match day of the 17th Asian Club League Championship at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena on 8 December.

Dr. Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Director General, Qatar 2015 Organising Committee said: “The Schools Programme was launched with the intention to create a lasting interest in the sport of handball among students. Through the projects and contests, we have created excitement around the sport and this was demonstrated by the enthusiasm shown during the Mini Tournament as well. We congratulate the winning teams and hope they draw inspiration from the professional handball players that will be in Qatar during the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship in January 2015.”

Handball fever has taken schools across Qatar. Qatar 2015 organised a month-long Schools Programme in cooperation with the Supreme Education Council (SEC)to engagethe students with activities and projects, which included a Handball Activity Day, an Art Competition and a Cheer Contest.

The Handball Activity Day held on 28 November at the Duhail Handball Sports Hall gave students a chance to receive training by professional handball coaches prior to the Mini Tournament.

The event brought together over 70 students from different schools across Qatar. It gave them an opportunity to learn proper warm-up techniques and also helped them learn lessons on teamwork through proper defence while playing handball.Students were also able to test their handball skills at the fun zones that were set up at the venue on the activity day.

Final evaluation is currently underway for the Art Competition and the winning designs will be displayed at competition and non-competition venues across Qatar during the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship. School teams that have won the Cheer Contest will also be invited to demonstrate their cheer and show their support to teams during the championship.

A total of 53 schools participated in the programme that aimed to popularise the sport among the students in Qatar. It also aimed to encourage a sense of sportsmanship and sense of national pride.

The 24th Men’s Handball World Championship will be a celebration of sport for the players, team delegates, spectators, andeveryone visiting Qatar.

Matches run from 15 January – 1 February and will be taking place across three world-class stadia; Duhail Handball Sports Hall, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena and the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.