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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Focus Culture Features Books Special Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Third in the world
By Inas MazharEgypt defeated France 32-31 after extra time (26-26 at full time) to take third place in the world junior handball championship in Qatar. The result marks a peak for Egyptian handball since the juniors claimed the world title in Cairo in 1993. Victory in Qatar lifted Egypt to third place in the world rankings from the sixth position it has held following the world championships in Turkey in 1997 and Argentina in 1995.
Denmark claimed its third successive world title after beating Sweden 26-22 (21-21 at full time) in the final. Yugoslavia took fifth place after beating Spain 26-23. Russia claimed the seventh spot with a 27-22 victory over Greece while Tunisia came ninth after defeating Portugal 23-22.
Meanwhile, Egypt's national team, gold medalists at last week's Pan-Arab Games in Jordan, are taking part in a pre-Olympic handball tournament in Sydney. The Southern Cross International Handball Challenge is being held from 7 to 12 September in Hall 4 of the Sydney Olympic Park, the site of next year's Olympic championships.
Host nation Australia will face some of the world's top teams at home: Croatia, winners at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta; reigning world champions Sweden; and Egypt, currently ranked seventh in the world. Japan and Belarus complete the six competitors who will be divided into two groups of three. The draw, held in June, puts Croatia, Belarus and Egypt in Group A while Group B comprises Sweden, Japan and Australia. Egypt was scheduled to meet Belarus in the opening match of the group and faces Croatia tomorrow.
In the women's tournament, Australia will face Olympic champions Denmark, European champions Norway, Olympic silver medalists Korea and Hungary.
The International Handball Federation intends to use the tournaments as a dry run for next year's Olympics.
Egyptian coach Mohamed El-Alfi said recently that his team needed more rest following the Pan-Arab Games in Jordan. "The team had only two days off after returning from Amman," El-Alfi said. "On Saturday, we went straight into training and then headed to the airport on Monday." Nevertheless the tournament would benefit the team greatly: "We have a valuable opportunity that should not be missed. We will get a chance to get adjusted to the weather and playing conditions in Australia a year before the Olympics start. That will help us a lot."
