HANDBALL – BAHRAIN barged through to the semi-finals last night of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Kuwait City, despite suffering a narrow 21-23 loss to Saudi Arabia in their concluding fixture of the tournament’s main round.
The kingdom’s senior men’s handball national team suffered a narrow defeat to their Gulf rivals at Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah Covered Hall Sports Complex in the Kuwaiti capital. But the result was enough to send them through to the last four as they finished runners-up in Group Two at the end of this stage.
By claiming their semis spot, the Bahrainis also punched their tickets to the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship next year. The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) competition also acts as a continental qualifier for the worlds, with the leading quartet booking their tickets to international handball’s showpiece event.
Also making it through from their division and joining Bahrain in the semis were defending champions Qatar, who outclassed the UAE 25-20 in yesterday’s other Group Two clash.
The Qataris finished in first place on the table followed by Bahrain and Saudi – all of whom had four points with two wins and a loss apiece. Qatar and Bahrain advanced on goal difference at Saudi’s expense.
In the ensuing stage, which will be played tomorrow, the nationals will face Group One winners Japan at 4pm, while the Qataris will take on Kuwait, who were Group One runners-up, at 6pm. Both times are Bahrain.
Bahrain’s loss last night was their first setback of the tournament after sweeping through their three preliminary round games and then winning their first two main round contests against the Emiratis and Qataris.
The nationals began yesterday’s tie trailing early but a Mohammed Habib Ahmed goal gave them a slim 8-7 edge. They held on for an 11-10 lead at the break, but in the concluding 30 minutes, Saudi put up an even tougher fight. Bahrain held a 21-20 advantage following an Ali Alasheeri conversion, but that was the last they would score as they failed to convert in the concluding six-and-a-half minutes. The Saudis, on the other hand, ended the contest strong and had three unanswered goals to seal their victory. The decisive efforts were supplied by Abdull Alhulaili, Hussien Furaij, and Mohammed Alabas.
Bahrain skipper Hussain Al Sayyad finished as their leading scorer in the loss with six goals, while Ahmed added four and Sayed Ali Shubbar scored three. Alasheeri, Qassim Qamber, and Jassim Khamis chipped in with two goals apiece, while Ahmed Kadhem and Hassan Madan rounded out their scorers with a goal each.
Alabas paced Saudi with seven conversions in their win, while three others chipped in with three goals apiece, including Mohab Khallaf, Mojtaba Al Salem, and Furaij.
Following tomorrow’s semi-finals, the gold and bronze medal matches are set for Thursday.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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