Korea sees mixed results on the handball court

Korea took one win and one loss in Hangzhou Asian Games handball Saturday, with the women’s team recording a 45-23 victory over Kazakhstan and the men’s team losing 25-24 to Kuwait.

The Korean women’s team dominated Kazakhstan throughout the game, never ceding their lead to win the first half at 22-15, before sealing a 45-23 win to reach the semifinals as Group A winners.

The two sides had already booked a spot in the semifinals and the game would only determine who would reach the knockout stage as Group A winners.

Korea's handball teams continue their quest for gold in Asian Games

In Asiad women’s handball, only nine countries, divided into two groups, compete. Group A has four teams and Group B has five teams.

The Korean women’s team will next face China in the semifinal on Tuesday next week at Zhejiang Gongshang University Sports Centre.

The Korean men’s team faced Kuwait in their second main round game held at Zhejiang Gongshang University Sports Centre in Jinhua, China after finishing as Group B runners-up and suffering a loss to Bahrain in their first main round game on Friday.

The main round is where the top two teams from four groups — Group A, B, C and D — are divided into two groups again and compete each other to reach the semifinals.

Korea started the game strong, scoring multiple goals to end the first half 13-9. The second half was more neck-and-neck and Korea conceded a series of goals.

The score was tied at 24-24 and Kuwait broke the deadlock in the last minute with Ali Saleh’s goal, completing a comeback to win the game 25-24.

With the loss, Korea lost a chance to reach the semifinals. They will still play the last game of the main round.

The women’s team, on the other hand, will continue a bid to win thier third consecutive Asiad gold.

The men’s team has secured eight Asiad gold medals and the women’s team has claimed the title seven times in total.

The men’s team will play Iran in their last main round game on Sunday at the same venue.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]