Japan crowned Asian junior handball champions
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Gutsy Japan upset home side Bahrain to claim the gold medals last night in the 17th Asian Men’s Junior Handball Championship, hosted by Bahrain.
The Japanese captured their first continental title at the under-20 level following a hard-earned 24-20 win against the Bahrainis in a thrilling tournament final, which was played in front of a packed crowd at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.
Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) president and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the match.
The nationals fought valiantly throughout the contest, battling back from a five-goal half-time deficit to tie the proceedings in the second half. But a late 6-2 rally by the Japanese in the last 10 minutes of play helped them seal the crown, as they wrapped up their tournament campaign with an unbeaten record. Bahrain’s runner-up finish was the second time in the history of the competition that they claimed the silver medals.
They had also won silver in the 1994 edition held in Syria. The Japanese claimed their fourth Asian junior medals, as their first gold added to their one silver and two bronze medals from past events. Meanwhile, Kuwait clinched the competition’s bronze medals following a 27-21 win over Saudi Arabia in the game for third place.
All three of the tournament’s medallists were presented their respective accolades in the official awarding and closing ceremony, held after play. Handing out the awards were GSA CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, BOC secretary general Fares Al Kooehji, Bahrain Handball Association president Ali Isa, and other high-ranking sports officials.
Shrug off
In the first half, Bahrain needed to shrug off some early jitters and trailed 3-6 but were able to stay close. The Japanese finished the opening 30-minute period strong by scoring three unanswered goals to go up 12-7. The Bahrainis were unlucky before heading into the locker rooms, as a Komail Ali penalty at the buzzer hit the left post.
The hosts were determined to fight back and came roaring out of the gate after the break. Behind the superb goalkeeping of Hesham Isa and four goals from Mohammed Rabia, along with another from Mahmood Alkhunaizi, Bahrain were able to go on a furious 5-0 rally to tie it at 12-all. Things remained close and a penalty by Rabia tied it once again at 16-all.
But after an Abdulla Ali goal levelled it at 18-apiece, the Japanese went on a game-clinching 6-2 spurt, capped by a Naoki Fujisaka goal. The Bahrainis could not recover and Japan did enough to secure the win and their title. Rabia led Bahrain’s scorers with seven goals in the match while Ali had five and Alkhunaizi three.
Isa made 14 saves for Bahrain between the posts and was later selected as the Best Player of the Match. Fujisaka was the leading man for Japan with eight goals, while Shin Izumoto added four. Tetta Otake, Ren Arase and Soa Irei each scored three goals.
Japanese goalkeeper Kosuk Matsushita had 11 saves in the match. In Kuwait’s triumph, they led 12-9 at the half and widened the gap over the final 30 minutes. Saif Aladwani was their leading scorer with six goals, while Fawaz Almashari and Abdulrahman Alshammari each contributed four. Ali Almohsen paced Saudi in the loss with seven goals, while Ahmed Alabdullah
Related Posts