S. Korea Men's Handball Falls to Qatar, Headed for Bronze Medal Match Against Japan

The South Korean men's handball national team failed to overcome Qatar at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and has been pushed to the bronze medal match.

Led by head coach Cho Young-shin, the national team lost 30-32 to powerhouse Qatar, which was aiming for its fourth consecutive title, in the semifinals held at the Inazawa Entrio in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on September 28.

South Korea's bid to reclaim the top spot for the first time in 16 years since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games has fallen through.

South Korea will play against Japan in the bronze medal match at the same venue at 5:00 PM on September 29.

Starting the game with methodical offense utilizing pivots for high-percentage scoring alongside fast breaks, South Korea initially led Qatar by two points. However, they repeatedly allowed goals to Qatar's fast-paced breakthroughs and high-release shots stemming from superior physiques, ending the first half in a 16-16 tie.

Particularly regrettable was a moment near the end of the first half when South Korea pulled ahead to 16-14 during a one-man numerical advantage following a two-minute suspension of a Qatari player, only to quickly concede goals as their defense was breached.

Continuing a tight battle in the second half, South Korea fell behind 28-30 after conceding consecutive goals to Qatar's left winger Ahmad Madadi with about five minutes left in regulation.

They subsequently conceded two more points through fast breaks and other plays, widening the gap to 28-32 and losing the momentum to chase back.

Head coach Cho Young-shin, who wiped away tears after the match out of deep regret, said, "I felt that way because I thought of all the hardships our players and I have gone through together. Our players prepared extensively despite being at a disadvantage in physique and power against Qatar, but our defense collapsed at the critical juncture in the second half."

He added, "Because one-on-one man-to-man defense was not feasible, our players had to expend two to three times more energy playing collaborative defense where two to three players surrounded the ball carrier. Qatar is a strong team chasing their fourth consecutive Asian Games title, but our match performance and desire to win were superior, and I am proud of our players."

Coach Cho vowed, "Considering the unique nature of the Korea-Japan matchup, tomorrow's bronze medal match is a game we absolutely cannot give up. I will make sure the players recover their stamina quickly so we can prepare and play a good game tomorrow."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.