The nation of Qatar is celebrating a triumphant victory as their men’s beach handball team secured the prestigious 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour title on their home sand. In front of a fervent crowd of 1,500 enthusiastic fans, Qatar displayed their prowess and determination, ultimately defeating the formidable team from Brazil in a thrilling shoot-out during the final on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

The enthralling competition, which took place over two action-packed days on November 3 and 4, unfolded at the picturesque Al-Gharafa Beach Venue in Izghawa, Qatar. The men’s event showcased a high level of competition, with Qatar emerging as the deserving champions after securing three victories out of their four games.

A total of eight games were fiercely contested, with the first four taking place on the opening day across two riveting sessions. Qatar commenced their campaign with a resounding 2-0 victory (20:8, 24:16) over the reigning African champions, Tunisia. In this commanding performance, Qatar exhibited their strength and dominance in the sport. The team continued their impressive form, concluding the opening day with a hard-fought 2-0 victory (18:14, 18:16) against the highly-regarded Brazilian team. This victory was secured with a stellar performance by Zarko Markovic, who contributed 14 crucial points. Both sets of the match against Brazil were highly contested, with late-time outs from both teams adding to the drama and excitement for the spectators.

In a clash against the formidable Brazilian squad in the final, Brazil made a powerful statement by winning the first set with a decisive score of 24:12. However, Qatar was far from deterred. With their championship hopes hanging in the balance, the Asian side rallied with an outstanding performance in the second set, ultimately prevailing with a score of 26:22.

The intense competition led to a shoot-out that had spectators holding their breath. After four attempts each, both teams were locked at 4:4, with both sides missing two crucial attempts. Then, a moment of pure drama unfolded as Bruno Carlos de Oliveira, typically a reliable scorer for Brazil, saw his and Brazil’s fifth shot bounce over the bar.

This dramatic turn of events presented an opportunity that Qatar’s Zarko Markovic seized with unwavering confidence. With the weight of his nation’s hopes on his shoulders, Markovic stood poised at the other end of the court. In an electrifying moment, he sent the ball soaring past the Brazilian defence and into the net, clinching the title for Qatar.

After two days of exhilarating competition, the final rankings for the men’s event stood as follows:

Men’s Final Ranking:

1. Qatar
2. Brazil
3. Denmark
4. Tunisia

All games were shown live and free on the IHF YouTube Competitions channel and can be watched again here:

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