Handball: Poles beat Saudis at world championships on home soil

Poland have advanced to the next stage of the world men's handball championships after beating Saudi Arabia 27-24 in their final preliminary-stage match on home turf on Monday.

Poland's Arkadiusz Moryto (left) in action against Saudi Arabia in Katowice on Monday night.

Photo: PAP/Zbigniew Meissner

The Poles finished third in their group, behind France and Slovenia, and will now play Spain, Montenegro and Iran in Kraków, southern Poland.

Pokonujemy Arabię Saudyjską 2️⃣7️⃣:2️⃣4️⃣ i awansujemy do II rundy Mistrzostw Świata! 😍💪

Gramy dalej! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ur0CmE9v7M

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) January 16, 2023

Styl nie zachwycił, ale zadanie zostało wykonane ✅ Polska z awansem do kolejnej fazy 🔽#handball2023 https://t.co/6JaPC2rEx2

— Sport PR (@sportradiopl) January 16, 2023

Poland and Sweden are jointly hosting the 2023 World Men’s Handball Championship, which began last Wednesday and runs until January 29.

Poland lost 24-26 to Olympic champions France in the opening match of the tournament and were then beaten by Slovenia 23-32.

Jeszcze wyniki poniedziałkowych meczów ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/jGUC4PDZAJ

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) January 16, 2023

"We will now be preparing for the match against Spain and will be looking for a second victory in the championship," said Polish winger Arkadiusz Moryto after the team's win over Saudi Arabia at the Spodek Arena in the southern Polish city of Katowice on Monday.

W II rundzie zagramy w TAURON Arena Kraków! 🔥

📅 Zapiszcie daty i godziny meczów.

🎫 Bilety ➡️ https://t.co/26wTwQoZcz pic.twitter.com/4afOLHAtVG

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) January 16, 2023

Poland's coach Patryk Rombel said ahead of the tournament that the Polish team was aiming to reach the quarterfinals of this year's world championship "because a place in the top eight will give us an opportunity to play in a tournament to qualify for the 2024 Olympics" in Paris.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, handball23.com