Players for Qatar celebrate their win during the 24th Men's Handball World Championships semi-finals match between Qatar and Poland at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall in Doha on January 30, 2015. AFP
AFP/Doha
Qatar became the first non-European side ever to reach a World handball final after beating Poland 31-29 on Friday.
In a historic night for the sport at a jubilant and packed 15,300-seater Lusail stadium, Qatar overcame a hesitant start to beat a dogged Polish side and shake up handball's world order.
Previously, no Asian team had got further than the quarter-finals and only two African sides had ever reached the semi-finals.
The hosts, who went into the tournament ranked 36, had said at the beginning of the cup that their aim was to reach the last eight.
But after three straight victories in the knockout phase against strong European teams -- Austria, Germany and Poland -- Qatar will now contest Sunday's final, against one of the sport's elite sides, Spain or France.
Spain are the defending champions while France hold the Olympic and European titles.
Some off the pitch have questioned the energy-rich Gulf state's progress because of the number of foreign players they have drafted in, but the team, regardless of its international flavour, have been worthy winners on it.
However, at first on Friday, it appeared that history was to be denied as the Polish started much the better and mainly through influential pivot Michal Jurecki, led until the 20th minute.
The omens were not good for the Qataris.
Twice Poland scored despite having a player in the sin bin, to emphasise their early superiority.
And they were even able to deny Zarko Markovic, who had scored 55 goals throughout the tournament before the semi-final, a goal until close to half time.
Gradually though, the hosts edged back into the game.
The influential Rafael Capote equalised to make it 10-10 in the 20th minute, and it proved the game's turning point.
Three minutes later Kamalaldin Mallash put Qatar ahead and it was a lead they never relinquished.
By half-time the hosts were ahead 16-13 and as the game began to slip away, Poland, like Qatar's two previous opponents, Austria and Germany, felt aggrieved at several decisions made by the match referees.
The Polish bench erupted in fury in the 28th minute, complaining that the referees failed to give a foul on Karol Bielecki, which led to a Qatar counter-attack.
Their complaints were so furious coach Michael Biegler was yellow carded.
The second half was tense, but Qatar managed to maintain at least a two goal lead throughout. Poland edged close, 29-27 with less than two minutes to go, but the hosts clung on.
Markovic exploded into life in the final 10 minutes, to help settle any nerves, despite constant Polish pressure.
And a penalty from Markovic assured victory with just a minute to go.
At the final whistle, Qatar's team of international stars -- who all sang the national anthem before the game -- celebrated wildly in front of an ecstatic crowd.
