Media Release

Doha, Jul 31: Qatar is entering the final stages of the IHF Super Globe 2013. From 2014 onwards Handball’s global top club competition might also include a women’s tournament with teams from all continental federations taking part.

The news was confirmed by Leon Kalin, chairman of the IHF COC Commission soon after the Super Globe 2013 Draw was carried through at the Zetra Olympic Indoor Hall in Sarajevo.

Hosts Al Sadd had the right to choose the group they were willing to play and they decided to join Group A were European Champions Hamburg HSV, Qatar’s wild-carded Al Jeish and Oceania Champions Sydney University were previously placed.

In Group B, Europe’s VELUX EHF Champions League runner ups and replacements of Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona will confront Asian Champions Al Rayyan from Qatar, Africa’s representative’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel from Tunisia and Americas Champions Taubate from Brazil. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the semifinals. The tournament will be played in Doha from August 25 till August 30. 

The draw was conducted by Leon Kalin and Mohamed Jaber Al Mulla, secretary general of the Qatar Handball Association and director of Sport Operations of the Qatar 2015 Men’s Handball World Championship Organizing Committee, who represented the organisers.

Kalin, pointed out the importance of the Super Globe as part of the preparations for the Qatar2015 Men’s Handball World Championship and also highlighted the increasing popularity of the event:

“At the Asian Club Competition 16 teams, including for the first time a representative from China, took part, while in America 12 clubs chased the sole ticket for the Super Globe at the respective Continental qualification round. Handball is growing up in numbers worldwide and as an Olympic sport we are willing to become stronger and stronger in order to secure our Olympic status,” explained Kalin.