Bahrain edge Iraq to reach handball semi-finals

Bahrain yesterday (AUGUST 18) were ensured a place in the handball championship semi-finals at the Second Asian Youth Games, being held in Nanjing, in China.

In their second Pool 'A' game in the second round, the under-17 squad picked up a hard-fought 26-25 win over Iraq to top this four-nation group with four points and secured their berth in the competition’s last four with one match remaining against joint leaders Qatar today.

Hasan Madan inspired Bahrain to a crucial victory, scoring two goals in the last three minutes, while goalkeeper Qasim Al Shuwaikh made some fine saves towards the end of the game, which proved vital.

Fadhel Al Haddad was Bahrain’s top scorer in the game with six goals. He was well assisted by teammates Hasan Al Adhab and Husain Maki, who scored five goals apiece. Bahrain were also ahead 14-13 at half-time.

In the same group, Qatar followed suit as they also claimed their second successive victory in this stage to share Bahrain the lead. The Qataris, who eased to a 36-23 (17-13) victory over Iraq in the first game, maintained momentum as they defeated Syria 19-10 (11-5) to punch their ticket into the semi-finals.

The Bahrainis had kick-started their campaign in this round robin stage with an emphatic 35-26 victory over Syria last Saturday.

Coached by Adel Al Sabba, Bahrain made it to the quarter-finals round robin stage after coming on top in Group 'C' with an all-win record.

After their dominant performance in the first round, the Bahrainis were placed in Pool ‘A’ in the quarter-finals along with Group 'A' winners Qatar, Group 'B' runners-up Iraq and Group 'B' runners-up Syria.

In the other Pool 'B', Saudi Arabia edge Iran 27-22 (11-12) to claim a joint lead with Korea, who eased to a 30-25 (15-14) win against Kuwait.

Bahrain is also taking part in athletics, table tennis and fencing. In table tennis, Bahrain’s rising junior Alyas Alyassi suffered a 2-3 (11-4, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11) defeat to Jing Yin of Singapore in the last-16 round.

Alyas made it to the playoffs after coming second in Group ‘D’, going down 0-3 (7-11, 7-11, 3-11) to Japan’s Tonin Ryozaki in the top-of-the-group clash earlier yesterday.

Bahrain's other representative Rashid Khalid, who was seeded 23rd, signed off with a morale 3-0 (11-1, 11-7, 11-9) victory over Kongphet Phinit of Laos earlier yesterday in Group 12.

Rashid entered the court knowing that he has no chance to progress after two straight losses to Korea's Gangheyon Park 1-3 (11-6, 6-11, 3-11, 6-11)and Dunley Foo of Malaysia 2-3 (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11).

In athletics, Bahrain's Mohammed Saad and Saeed Al Ameeri have completed their preparations ahead of today’s men’s 100m heats.

The Bahraini duo, being trained by head coach Mohammed Farhan, hope to reach the semi-finals, but need to finish in the top three in the heat event.

Fencing action begins today, when Bahrain’s Hamad Al Atawi competing in the men’s foil individual first round. It also features participants from Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Jordan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Qatar, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

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