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Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 June 2000 Issue No. 484 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 June 2000 Issue No. 484
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Features Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Taking on the world
By Inas MazharLast month it was Africa. This month, the world. Egypt's handball team goes to Saudi Arabia for the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Continental World Cup after having emerged triumphant from Algeria where they captured the African Nations Cup after an eight-year hiatus. Going into the Continental Cup on such a high note precipitated even higher expectations by Yugoslav coach Zoran: a second place finish behind defending champions Sweden.
This will be the second tournament the team plays under Zoran, who succeeded Spaniard Javiar Costa last year. The players say they have improved under the Yugoslav, who took his country to third place and the bronze medal in last year's World Championship in Egypt, and are confident of reaching peak form by the start of the Sydney Olympics in September.
The tournament, named after Prince Faisal, who died last year, includes the best teams the continents have to offer. Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are sending Sweden, Korea, Egypt and Brazil respectively. The fifth participant is host Saudi Arabia. The six-day event will take place in Dammam from 4 to 9 June. Games start at 6.30pm, and 8.30pm Saudi local time. Total prize money worth $60,000 is at stake.
Egypt prepared by playing four friendly games in Macedonia. According to assistant coach Mohamed El-Alfi, the World Cup, together with the African Championship, are the best preparation for the team before the Olympic Games begin. "This time we are serious about a medal. We have been improving and our level is rising," El-Alfi said.
Egypt needs 100 per cent from players like Gohar Nabil if it is to beat the world's best
photos: Khaled El-Fiqi
Organisers expect the Continental Cup to be held every two years and to become a permanent fixture in the international federation's calendar.
Following the Continental Cup, Egypt enters a four-nation tournament at Bercy in Paris, where the draw for the 2001 World Championship in France will also take place. The draw for the 2001 Men's Handball World Championship, to be carried out in nine French towns, will be held on 17 June 2000 in Paris. Up to now, defending champions Sweden, host France, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Russia, Spain, Slovenia and Croatia have qualified for the world championship. Fourteen countries are still vying for places.
Also on 17 June the world handball players of the century will be chosen.
The following is the schedule of the Continental Cup following the draw which took place in Basel, Switzerland on 15 May at the headquarters of the International Handball Federation:
4 June: Egypt X Korea, Saudi Arabia X Brazil
5 June: Sweden X Korea, Egypt X Saudi Arabia
6 June: Brazil X Sweden
7 June Brazil X Egypt
8 June: Korea X Brazil, Saudi Arabia X Sweden
9 June: Sweden X Egypt, Saudi Arabia X Korea
