Czech Republic captain Filip Jicha (centre) lifts the President’s Cup trophy after his team beat Belarus in the final on Tuesday at the Duhail Handball Sports Hall in Doha. (EPA)
The Czech Republic won the IHF President’s Cup at the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship in Qatar, taking the title after a narrow 32-31 victory over Belarus.
Czech team captain Filip Jicha lifted the trophy, presented by the International Handball Federation president Hassan Moustafa, after a great battle and a thrilling penalty shootout against their Belarusian rivals at Duhail Arena.
This was the best possible way that a handball nation, which had once experienced plenty of success as Czechoslovakia – the country won the world title in 1967— could celebrate its comeback to the international stage after an eight-year absence from the World Championships.
The generation of Jicha, Stochl, Sobol, Horak and some younger guys joined Algeria (2013), Slovakia (2011), Spain (2009) and Norway (2007), as winners of the IHF President’s Cup, established at the 2007 World Championship in Germany.
“We finished this World Championship in great shape,” said Jicha, the 2010 IHF World Player of the Year.
“I am very happy because of the trophy and my younger teammates who fought hard to get this award. They showed character against the strong opponents like Russia and Belarus. I am so proud. We are enjoying this moment.”
Despite missing out on the eight-finals after Group C action where they beat Iceland and Algeria convincingly, the team led by coaching duo Daniel Kubes and Jan Filip, didn’t give up in the consolation competition.
“No, we didn’t, even if we were sad,” Jicha, a left back for THW Kiel, added.
“We managed to stay focused until the end of the tournament. We showed team spirit and fought until the end. This is the reason why this trophy is an amazing achievement for us.”
Many fans were left to wonder how far the Czech Republic could have gone had Jicha, who was sidelined by injury for the first two matches, been at one hundred percent fitness.
“Ah, who knows what could have happened? I can’t change that. I was in bed for six days. This trophy is now even more important for me.”
This was the sixth Czech appearance at a World Championships since 1995. More than the result, which was better in 2005 (10th place) and 2007 (12th place), it was important that Jicha and his teammates managed to get back onto the big stage. The main question now is how they will maintain consistency at major events.
“It is really hard to say more in this moment,” Jicha said.
“I have a strong will to play more for the national team as do my friends here. As a team, we showed that we can stay close to any rival. That makes me positive for upcoming events.
France 2017 now awaits the IHF President’s Cup title holders.