Qatar are drawn along with Oman

CHAMPIONS Qatar have been drawn into Group A along with Oman, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan for the Sixth Asian Men’s Beach Handball Championship, to be held in Thailand from May 6 to 13.

The draw for the championship, the qualifier for the 2018 World Championship in Sochi, Russia, was held at the Asian Handball Federation’s head office in Kuwait last week.

Group B features hosts Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the UAE.

Only the winners will qualify for Russia and hence the stakes are high naturally.

Qatar, who started their preparations for the continental competition last week, have an impeccable record in the tournament having won it a record three times (2011 and 2015 in Muscat and 2013 in Hong Kong).

They also have a respectable record at the World Championship, where they finished third at 2016 in Hungary.