(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman stormed into the main round of the handball competition at the 17th Asian Games on Monday following a convincing 28-18 win over UAE in a Group C preliminary match at the Seonhak Handball Gymnasium in Incheon South Korea.
With two successive wins Oman booked its place in the main round along with group topper Qatar. Oman next plays Iran on Wednesday in Group 2 of the round-robin league that will feature eight teams.
Oman's handball players (in red jersey) in action during the Group C match against UAE
The main round comprises two groups of four teams each. After losing its opener to fancied Qatar (19-31) Oman defeated China (32-25) on Sunday and followed it up with a solid victory over UAE. Coached by Egypt's Bassim El Sobky Oman led 12-9 in the first half and finished 16-9 in the second session.
Asad al Hassani was once again in terrific form scoring ten goals while Hamed al Dughaishi and Ahmed al Hinai had five and four goals respectively. Imad al Dughaishi and Nasr al Tamtami found the net three times each while the other scorers for Oman were Haitham al Balushi (2) Marwan al Dughaishi (1) and Mahir al Dughaishi (1).
Goalkeeper Muneer al Balushi once again displayed sharp reflexes as he made 15 saves from 29 attempts made by UAE to keep Oman on top. In shooting the two women shooters were in action and both Siham al Hasani and Wadha al Balushi produced low scores to bow out of contention.
In the 10m air rifle qualification round at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range Siham finished 43rd out of 54 participants scoring a total of 403.4 points (102.6 102.4 104.1 94.3).
In the 25m pistol qualification in rapid and precision category Wadha scored a combined 566 to finish 29th out of 44 competitors. In the precision event Wadha scored 280 (93 93 94) to be placed 32nd while in the rapid event she had a total score of 286 (91 97 98).
Crucial test for hockey team
The national hockey team faces a big test on Tuesday when it takes on former champion India in a Pool B match. Oman lost 0-5 to China in its opening match and will hope to avoid a massive defeat against the Indians. India routed Sri Lanka 8-0 in its opening game and will look to improve its goal-difference ahead of its key clash against Pakistan which had mauled Sri Lanka 14-0 in its opener.
The India-Pakistan clash could go on to decide on who would face South Korea in the semifinal. Oman's coach Oliver Kurtz who previously had a coaching stint with the Indian team will hope to successfully adopt a defensive style against India on Tuesday as tried out by Sri Lanka.
Oman is a stronger side than Sri Lanka and is ranked 22nd in the world. India has won comfortably the last few times it has played against the physically-strong Omanis.
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