Bahrain put up tough fight in loss

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain bowed to European handball powerhouses Iceland 28-34 last night in their concluding Group II clash in the President’s Cup of the 10th IHF Men’s Youth Handball World Championship, currently being held in Croatia.

The nationals had an early lead against their heavily favoured rivals but could not capitalise on their strong start. They fell behind by as many as eight goals although they fought valiantly until the final whistle.

The loss was their second in a row in this stage of the competition. They had previously suffered a heavy defeat to Japan, while their win over South Korea in the preliminary stage was carried over.

The Koreans defeated the Japanese 34-27 in yesterday’s other Group II fixture. With both results, the Bahrainis were dropped to last on the division standings and will now play for 29th to 32nd place on the worlds’ final classification.

The Bahrainis needed a big win against Iceland to stay in contention for the President’s Cup, which is to be won by the 17th-ranked team at the end of the tournament. But they could not produce the victory and will now go up against Burundi tomorrow in their first contest of the 29th-to-32nd bracket.

Depending on the result, they will then face either Mexico or New Zealand in their final ranking game on Friday. The nationals took a 6-4 lead in the first half yesterday following a Mohamed Ali conversion, but then conceded the next four goals to their rivals as they lost their momentum.

Iceland continued to build their advantage and went into the half up 19-13, before stretching the gap to 22-14 on a Thorvaldur Thorvaldsson effort. The Bahrainis put up a fight, getting to within three, 24-27, with an Abdulla Mohamed goal and just 13 minutes to go, but got no closer.

Mohamed finished as Bahrain’s top scorer with six goals, while Ali and Sayed Mahmood Alfalahi each contributed five. Salman Alshowaikh chipped in with four goals, while Jaffar Farsan, Mohamed Almarzooq and Ali Mohamed all had two goals apiece.

The Bahrainis’ scoresheet was rounded off by Ali Kadhem and Ahmed Fardan with a goal each. Reynir Thor Stefansson spearheaded Iceland with six goals, while Elmar Erlingsson and Eidur Rafn Valsson had five apiece.

The Bahrainis are coached by Icelandic tactician Maksim Akbachev. This year’s youth handball worlds is its first edition to feature a 32-team field. By playing for 29th-to-32nd place, the Bahrainis are assured of their lowest-ranked finish in their five appearances in the worlds. They were eighth in 2007, 17th in 2011, 22nd in 2017 and 17th in 2019.