HANDBALL – Bahrain's junior men’s handball national team had twice the reason to celebrate yesterday after punching their tickets to the semi-finals of the 19th Asian Men’s Junior Handball Championship in Chuzhou, China, and in the process securing their berth in next year’s 26th IHF Men’s U21 Handball World Championship.
The kingdom’s squad achieved both feats after defeating Iran 31-24 in their elite-eight clash at Chuzhou International Handball Hall.
The Bahrainis thus claimed one of four spots in the worlds, which are to be held from June 23 to July 4 in 2027 in North Macedonia.
Joining them are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea, all of whom also advanced yesterday to the semis in the continental event.
The Emiratis defeated the host Chinese 37-28, the Saudis edged past their Kuwaiti counterparts 25-23, and the South Koreans triumphed 30-26 against Chinese Taipei.
The final four is set to be held today as part of the penultimate day’s programme in the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) tournament.
Bahrain will be taking on South Korea at 1pm, while the UAE will battle Saudi in an all-Gulf affair at 3pm. Both times are Bahrain.
The winners will move on to lock horns for the gold medals on Monday, while the losing sides will face off for bronze.
Classification games are also scheduled for today and Monday.
In their victory yesterday, Bahrain fell behind late in the first half but back-to-back goals from Abbas Ali helped them overcome the deficit and take a slim 10-9 lead, and they never relinquished the advantage from there.
They finished the opening period strong and goals from Ali and Ahmed Eid put them up 14-11 heading into the locker rooms.
After the re-start, the Iranians stayed close and got to within a goal at 16-17.
But the Bahrainis responded with three unanswered conversions, all scored by Eid, and then they rode their momentum to the finish.
They stretched their lead to 26-18 with a 6-2 surge and then charged ahead by nine – their biggest lead of the contest – for the first time following an Ahmed Alsamaheeji goal from six metres that made it 28-19.
Iran could not reply and Bahrain did well to close things out for the sensational win.
Eid finished as the nationals’ leading scorer with eight goals, while Ali chipped in with seven. Alsamaheeji scored four while Salman Alshowaikh and Mahmood Yusuf each had three.
Sayed Majeed Almuhafda and Abuthar Yateem fired in twice each, while Mohammed Aadam and Ahmed Abdulla both scored once.
Despite registering just one goal, Abdulla was named Player of the Match and was awarded a prize for his efforts post-game.
Amirhossein Karami paced Iran in the loss with seven goals.
The kingdom’s junior men, coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Hussam Madan, are looking to win the AHF’s junior men’s crown for only the second time, having captured gold in the 1998 edition.
They have climbed the podium in each of its three previous editions, winning silver in 2022 and capturing bronze both in 2018 and 2024.
The nationals also secured silver in 1994.
Elsewhere yesterday, Bahrain Handball Federation official Hussain Alasfoor awarded South Korea’s Ju Yongchan after being named Player of the Match in their win against Chinese Taipei.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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