Egypt advanced to the handball semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics for the first time in history after beating Germany in the quarter-final on Tuesday.
The Pharaohs’ dominated the Germans from the start of the match, finishing with a comfortable 31-26 victory.
The team has done well this year, winning five out of six games. They suffered a 32-27 defeat against Denmark on July 26.
Egyptian goalkeeper Karim Hendawi was once again the hero, with 18 impressive saves.
The team’s top scorer was FC Barcelona Handbol left-back Ali Zein, who managed to snag five goals out of six total shots during the match.
Egypt's handball team has never made it this far at the Olympics. The closest they came to the semi-finals was at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when they finished in sixth place after a 20-19 loss against eventual silver-medalists Spain.
It is also the best ever result by an African team in the sport at the Games. The Pharaohs are set to face France in the first semi-final on August 5.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
