The handball skillful player who managed to raise the Egyptian flag internationally and cast the Egyptian eyes over a sport other than football, Ahmed Elahmar that recently announced plans to retire right after the Olympics, is currently preparing for his last international station alongside the national handball team that is to represent Egypt in the Olympic cycle 2021.
“Trendify” conducted an interview with Elahmar who provided detailed information about the preparatory program of the handball team for the Olympics, the forms of support they receive from the federation and his plans after retirement.
What is the preparatory program set by the Spanish coach to prepare the Egyptian handball team for the Olympics?
We have started training in the holy month of Ramadan where we have spent two weeks then took another two weeks off. Afterwards, we went to Hurghada for a closed camp then followed a series of closed camps which started with fitness exercises in order to improve our physical performance. Afterwards, we were promoted for the stage of friendly matches in other different closed camps.
What forms of support do you receive from the Egyptian handball federation?
The new federation completes the plans of the previous ones. The federation follows up with us on everything and has already set a professional preparation program for the olympics which include organizing the closed camps. The federation members are keen on providing us with all the requirements to reach the Olympics in a good state that enables us to honorably represent Egypt internationally.
The Olympic draw led the Egyptian team to Group B which included Denmark world no.1 in handball and Sweden ranked world no.2, how do you see this group?
I believe that presence in highly competitive groups will add to the Egyptian team’s willingness to qualify and make it to the final matches. In fact both groups A and B are not easy ones so the challenge is there in all cases. On the bright side, this makes us do our best to get fully prepared for these confrontations and be up to required standards.
What stage do you expect the Egyptian team would reach easily?
This would be a very difficult prediction to make since all the qualified teams are top ranked ones. However, I believe we could easily make it to the quarter finals, after which confrontations will surely be very difficult since we would have to play with one of the 4 teams which are Spain, France, Germany and Norway where the 4 teams are very strong since France is ranked World No.4 and Spain No.3. Therefore, the presence of the Egyptian team alongside these teams would be a victory itself.
What teams would the Egyptian team be able to defeat with ease?
The teams closer to us in rank that we can defeat easily would be Bahrain who would play with us in the same group and their rank is less than that of the Egyptian team. We could also manage to win against the Japanese team easily.
You have declared your intention to retire right after the Olympics, what is the reason for choosing this time specifically?
Yes, the Olympics would be my last station internationally. I am okay and still fit. However, it’s time to retire because of the increased pressures and my age since I am not young anymore; I am 37 now and I have made a lot of international achievements that I am proud of and satisfied with. I will not take the coaching step soon since I will continue playing nationally, maybe in Zamalek SC.
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