The IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa met with members of the Chinese National Olympic Committee (COC) and the Chinese Handball Association (CHA) to discuss the development of handball in world’s most populous nation during 2018 Asian Games currently underway in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The COC have outlined a goal to be the first champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions at the 2022 Asian Games hosted in Hangzhou, and aim to rank among the top teams at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In view of these goals, several measures focused on youth development and training for coaches were agreed upon between the IHF, COC and CHA. Specifically, the measures include exchange of players between European nations and China, the establishment of two additional IHF Handball Academies in China, and a coach training system involving the recruitment of experts from outside the Asian nation.

As well as these core activities, the IHF will send experts to the country to hold regular lectures for coaches, referees and managers, and to promote handball at schools. To showcase top-level handball in China, international competitions such as the first Women’s Super Globe, scheduled to take place in 2019, will be organised.

The meeting was attended by Chinese Minister of Sports and President of the National Olympic Committee Ghou Zhongwen, President of the Chinese Handball Association Wang Tao, and COC and CHA Secretary Generals, Song Keqin and Cheng Qiao. The members of the COC and CHA were joined by President of the Asian Handball Federation, the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.