Yash Mudgal/Doha

El Jaish retained the 17th Asian Handball Clubs’ League Championship yesterday, winning the all-Qatar final against Lekhwiya 33-30 at the Ali bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena.
Jaish were the deserving winners of the championship as they displayed high speed, well-rehearsed defence, with their international players putting in a great effort.
They did not lose a single match over the course of whole tournament, and were brilliant in each one of the victories, justifying the gold medals worn around their necks. With this triumph, Jaish also qualified for the 2015 IHF Super Globe, the world club championship.
“We came here to defend the title and that is what we did. Today, we could show that we were the stronger team, and showed the champions face. I want to thank everyone in my wonderful team for his contribution,” said Jaish’s Mohamed Shebib, who scored 11 goals.
“Like all other players I have pain everywhere and am very tired. But we have an extraordinary fighting spirit in our team, and that gave me the extra power to run in with so many fast breaks,” he said. Jaish started in good position, as Lekhwiya’s line player Mario Tomic was suspended following a red card he received in the last minute of the semifinal match against Al Kuwait Club on Saturday.
Tomic is not only a strong post in their defence but a crucial part of Lekhwiya’s attack, working hard to create space for his back court players, especially fellow Croatian shooter Bagaric.
Commenting over the absence of Tomic, Shebib said: “When we learned that he was suspended and would not play, we knew that is was going to be much easier. So we focused on closing the three back court players in defence, which worked out fine. It was a clever and successful tactic.”
After a levelled start to the game, Jaish eventually took control with their well-known waves of energy in attack and started to slowly but steadily create an increasing lead, although Lekhwiya goalkeeper Almalem had a fantastic day and blocked lot of the shots.
In the middle of the second-half, Lekhwiya fought back and were only one goal behind. But Jaish stayed cool and with the help of some very important goals from Egyptian line player Shebib and increase the lead again.
In the last ten minutes of the game, Jaish showed their class. The title defenders hardly showed any nerves as they made their moves with fervor and finished the game 33-30 in their favour. Though Lekwhiya lost the final, Youssef Almalem was satisfied with his team’s performance in the tournament.
“We wanted to win today, but we lost to the reigning champions and finished second. It is a huge accomplishment for us as we were fifth in our first ever appearance at Asian Clubs’ League last season. Today is a great day for Lekhwiya. We are a new team with so many young players,” he said.
Overall, it was the third time in history of the championship that two Qatar teams featured in the final. Also for the second year in running, both the finalists were from Qatar with El Jaish winning the title last year at the expense of Al Rayyan Club. Qatar’s Al Sadd, the most success team with five titles and two third-place finishes, had beaten Al Ahli Club 33-30 to win the title in 2003.
Also this was the sixth instance since 1998 when the championship was launched in Amman, Jordan, that the finalists belonged to the same country. Kuwait follow Qatar with two such finals to their credit. Saudi Arabian teams also figured in the 2008 final when Al Ahli defeated Al Noor in Jeddah.

Kuwait’s Qurain finish third
The Kuwaiti classic handball derby between Al Kuwait Club and Al Qurain Club with third place at stake was a close fight from the beginning. Qurain, however, won 35-30 to take the honours.
Qurain played a 6-0 classic defence instead, while occasionally a player was checking on Mohamed Algharaballi, Kuwait’s most dangerous man and the tournament’s top scorer.
Algharaballi was not in his best form and netted in just three goals in the bronze medal play-off. Al Kuwait was trailing by only one goal in 40th minute (20-19). As soon as Qurain though made a 4-0 run and led by five goals (25-20), Al Kuwait’s players lost their composure and surrendered to their compatriots’ superiority.
“Our opponents played extremely well in attack, also due to the fact that they have practiced more than we have. After all they are the big club in Kuwait, and congratulate them. Still I am very disappointed, already since we lost the semi-final. I came here to play for gold in the final,” Algharaballi said.
On becoming top scorer of the tournament he said: “It feels good to become top scorer, I had some great performances this tournament. But I would be more than happy to be in the final than the top scorer.”
Qurain’s middle back Mohammed Berkous was delighted with the win as he said: “It was a very tight game in the first-half, but in the second we played better, especially in defence and also concentrated on attacking as well. We worked hard throughout the whole tournament and we are satisfied with third place.”




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