Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship:
Iran pulls off comeback victory over Saudi Arabia in opener
Iran got off to a flyer at the Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship in Amman, Jordan, rallying from behind to defeat Saudi Arabia 28-20 in Group B on Friday.
Iran trailed 12-10 at halftime despite putting in a solid performance in the opening period. However, the momentum shifted in the second half as Iran executed head coach Mohammadreza Rajabi’s game plan more effectively and produced a stronger all-round display to turn the match around and secure a convincing eight-goal victory.
Ali Ghayour contributed a game-high six goals for Iran, with Arshia Javidifar and Mohammad-Taha Ebrahim Khanlari adding five apiece.
Iran goalkeeper Mehrshad Mansouri was named Player of the Match after a standout performance, with his saves playing a key role in the victory.
With Asia’s traditional powerhouses Qatar and Kuwait also in the group, Friday’s victory gave Iran a massive boost in its bid for a top-four finish and a place in the quarterfinals.
Iran will resume action against two-time champion Qatar, which defeated Kuwait 30-19 earlier on Friday, today before taking on Kuwait at Princess Sumaya Hall on Monday.
The final round of the group fixtures will see Iran face Syria on Wednesday.
The championship also serves as the qualification event for the 12th IHF Men’s Youth (U19) Handball World Championship, with the top four teams securing direct qualification for the global tournament, scheduled to be held from July 29 to Aug. 9 next year.