Bahrain held by Kuwait in Asian Men’s Handball Championship

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain were held to a thrilling 28-all stalemate by Kuwait last night in the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, currently being hosted in the Kingdom. The hosts battled back from a second-half deficit but could not overcome the stiff challenge from their Gulf rivals in both teams’ opening contest in Group Two of the competition’s main round.

Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa was attended the match, played at a packed Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town. Also victorious yesterday on the first day of this stage were five-time defending champions Qatar as well as Japan, while nine-time winners South Korea were held to a stunning 22-all draw by a battling Iraq.

The Qataris defeated the UAE 25-21 in Group One, while Japan edged past Iran 25-23 in the other divisional clash. The South Koreans and Iraqis played to their standoff in the other Group Two fixture of the day. Main round action continues today with Qatar facing Iran, South Korea taking on Kuwait, and Japan playing the UAE.

Bahrain will face Iraq as they hope to capture the much-needed three points. In last night’s draw, Bahrain started well but Kuwait were able to take a two-goal lead, 18- 16, into the break after a goal by Mohammad Ghadhanfar and a brilliant save by in-form goalkeeper Hasan Safar.

The nationals then faced a 19-23 deficit in the final 30-minute period but eventually came alive, fighting back to draw level at 25-apiece with a Hassan Al Samaheeji conversion. With five minutes remaining, goals from Ghadhanfar and Haider Dasthi gave the Kuwaitis a 28-26 edge.

But Mohammed Habib Ahmed was able to get one back and then Ali Mirza tied the proceedings for Bahrain with less than a minute to play. Bahrain goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussain made a crucial save with less than 10 seconds left, giving the nationals a chance to go for the win; however, Al Samaheeji’s effort just before the final buzzer was saved by Safar, preserving the tie.

Mohammed Habib Nasser finished as Bahrain’s top scorer with seven goals, while Mirza added six, Ahmed had five and skipper Hussain Al Sayyad finished with four. For Kuwait, Abdullah Alkhamees and Saleh Ali both had five to lead their team.

Alkhamees was later selected as the Best Player of the Game. In Qatar’s triumph last night, they roared back from an 8-12 deficit at the half to come away with the all-important opening main round win. Despite the loss, the UAE’s Ahmed Al Wehabi was named the Best Player of the Game. Japan were also narrow winners in the other Group One affair.

They too needed to overcome being down at the break to come away with their victory. Iran led 12-11 after the first 30-minute period, but the Japanese did enough to overturn the scores. Taiga Tsutaya was selected as their top performer in the contest.

Meanwhile, South Korea and Iraq matched each other point for point throughout their Group Two battle, and each thus came away with a share of the points. Iraq goalkeeper Muntadher Qasim was named the Best Player of the Game. Elsewhere yesterday, four matches were played in the consolation stage for the Martyr Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah Cup. The winners from those contests were China, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Chinese Taipei.