After a series of remote, virtual meetings and consultations with the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Qatar Handball Association (QHA) has announced that they will complete all remaining competitions after the 2019-20 season was postponed due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.

Starting from 10 September, and under strict precautionary measures, the league championship will be first to restart after it had been postponed after just a handful of rounds. This will be followed by the Qatar Cup and then Prince’s Cup.

“Everything in the returning competitions will be subject to all the precautionary measures for the safety of all,” said QHA Secretary General Al Mulla. “The league championship will be completed in the same order of matches according to the schedule previously set for the championship.”

One interested party will be Al Rayyan Sports Club, who have announced the appointment of the experienced North Macedonian coach Zvonko Sundovski.

Sundovski has coached at a variety of clubs, including RK Pelister and RK Metalurg Skopje in North Macedonia, plus HCM Constanta, CSM Bucuresti and HC Dobrogea Sud in Romania. He also led the Macedonian men’s national team to fifth place at the 2012 Men’s EHF European Championship in Serbia and has also coached the Israeli national team.

Already, the 2012 Macedonian Coach of the Year has made some additions to his squad, signing Qatar international Eldar Memisevic and Ukrainian Vladislav Ostroushko. Rival Qatari club side Al-Arabi, coached by Rafael Guijosa, have signed Serbian international Darko Stevanovic.

The QHA also announced that its men’s team will begin their preparations for the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship in Egypt in mid-October, following the completion of the Qatari league championship.

For more information about the Qatar Handball Association, visit their official website at www.qatarhandball.com.

Photo: Qatar Handball Association