HANDBALL: The Australian Men’s Handball Team are on their way to Qatar for the Olympic qualification tournament in Doha from November 14-27.

It would be a huge upset if the Australians could secure a place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, however you have to be in it to win it and there is plenty of Aussie pride on the line.

Australia is looking to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time. They competed at Sydney 2000 as the host nation.

The 11 men who will represent Australia are a mix of local and overseas based players:

Thomas Gerstch (VIC), Stephane Tabardin (VIC), Tomasz Lasek (VIC), Callum Mouncey (ACT), Andrew Lawrence (ACT), Oliver Machell (WA), Tomasz Szklarski (NSW), Caleb Gahan (QLD, based in Spain)
Kris Karlsson (Sweden), Tim Anderson (NSW, currently based in Germany)Tommy Fletcher (Faroe Islands). Jan Ottosen of Denmark will coach the Australians.

Australia sits in Group A with Bahrain, Korea, Iraq and China. Their first clash will be against China on Sunday.

Host nation Qatar, who are the silver medallists from the 2015 World Championships are in Group B. Iran and Saudi Arabia also made the Finals at the 2015 World Championships.

The winner of the Tournament will automatically secure their place in Brazil and the second and third best teams at this Asian Qualification event will contest a final tournament in 2016.

See below links for Match Schedule and Draws.

Match schedule at http://www.asianhandball.org/images/announcements/AMQ-2015.QAT/Match%20Schedule%20-.pdf

Groups Draw at http://www.asianhandball.org/images/results/AMQ2015/Draw%20Results.pdf

AOC