Bahrain fall to Japan at 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s quest to capture their first-ever senior continental title came to a screeching halt last night, bowing to Japan 17-20 in the semi-finals of the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship, currently being hosted by the Kingdom.

The nationals had a narrow two-goal lead at the break, but were held to just six goals in the second half by a suffocating Japanese defence.

A goal from Asumi Kitazume broke a 17-all deadlock with just over five minutes remaining, and then Taiga Tsutaya had back-toback conversions to peg the final score and book Japan’s berth in the gold medal game.

There, they will take on fivetime defending champions Qatar, who defeated Gulf rivals Kuwait 33-26 in yesterday’s other contest in the last four.

The Bahrainis will face off with the Kuwaitis for the bronze. The final is scheduled to take place at 6.30pm tomorrow at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

The bronze medal clash will be held at 4pm. All are welcome to attend with entrance free of charge.

Today is a rest day.

In attendance in Bahrain’s match last night were Cabinet Affairs undersecretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, and Bahrain Handball Association president and BOC member Ali Issa.

Bahrain were in control for much of the opening half but only took an 11-9 lead at the interval. Goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussain helped them preserve a four-goal cushion early on with successive saves, but the nationals could not take advantage and extend their lead.

Conversions from Mujtaba Al Zaimour and Ahmed Kadhem on a fast-break put them ahead 11-7, but the Japanese scored twice before the interval to reduce the deficit.

After the restart, Japan were quick to tie the proceedings at 11-apiece.

Things stayed close and later two penalties from Mohammed Habib Ahmed, plus another conversion from skipper Hussain Al Sayyad, put the Bahrainis up 16-14.

Fightback

Japan then fought back and a key save by Japan goalkeeper Motoki Sakai on another Ahmed effort from the seven-metre line, followed by a Shin Izumoto goal, tied the game at 17-all with just under 10 minutes to play.

Following an Ali Mirza strike, Bahrain’s Ahmed Almaqabi suffered a knock and needed to be taken off the court on a stretcher.

Mirza then had his shot saved on a golden opportunity to take the lead on a fast-break, and the Japanese made the hosts pay as Kitazume converted on the other end with the go-ahead goal.

Sakai made another save, this time on Al Sayyad, and the Bahrainis were unable to add to their score the rest of the way, setting the stage for Tsutaya’s game-ending conversion.

In Qatar’s win last night, they began to pull away in the latter part of the first half, going up 14-9 on a Zarko Markovic effort.

The Qataris led 17-11 at the half. They maintained their fine play over the final 30 minutes, when they stretched their advantage to as many as eight goals.

Frankis Marzo finished as the leading scorer for the victors with seven goals and was later named Best Player of the Game.

Ahmad Madadi added five, while four players finished with three goals each, including Rafael Capote, Abdulrazzaq Murad, Amine Guehis and Moustafa Heiba.

Saleh Ali had seven for the Kuwaitis, while Abdulaziz Salmeen and Abdulaziz Alshammari each finished with four goals.

Also yesterday, Saudi Arabia beat China 25-21 to claim the Martyr Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah Cup—the prize for the ninth-placed squad overall in the tournament.

The Saudis led 14-12 at the half. Mojtaba Al Salem was named the Best Player of the Game.