(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) It was an edge-of-the-seat thriller at the Al Sa'ada Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon as hosts Oman rallied from a first-half deficit to scrape past a gritty India for its second consecutive win in the 16th Asian Men's Junior (U21) Handball Championship in Salalah.
With seconds remaining for the final hooter and the teams tied at 37-37, Oman got the vital goal through Said al Hasani to record a thrilling 38-37 win in a Group D match. Hasani was also Oman's top-scorer with 14 goals while Sunny of India scored ten.
India led 21-17 at the end of first-half but it was the hosts' determined fightback in the second half that stole the limelight.
Coached by Egyptian Mohammed Abd Elmoety, the hosts' back-to-back wins ensure its progress into the main round (quarterfinals) of the meet.
Oman is currently behind Iran in the group after the latter trounced Yemen 49-19, in another match on Tuesday. Oman takes on Iran on Wednesday to decide the pool topper. Both Iran and Oman have four points each but Iran is ahead on goal-difference.
Oman had begun its campaign with a 38-26 win over Yemen while Iran had drubbed India 48-17 on Monday.
Also advancing to the main round were South Korea and Japan from Group A after posting their second consecutive wins. While South Korea beat China 32-27, Japan proved too good for Lebanon, winning 34-12.
Defending champion Qatar was not in action but Iraq's 45-22 win over Syria on Tuesday ensured the progress of Iraq and Qatar from Group B.
Qatar had defeated Syria on Monday in the three-team pool. Bahrain's 38-23 victory over Chinese Taipei also confirmed its berth in the main round from Group C along with Saudi Arabia, which was not in action on Tuesday. Saudis had won 41-30 against Chinese Taipei on the opening day and the latter's second loss left it to fight for the 9-14th places.
India, Yemen, Chinese Taipei, Syria, China and Lebanon will fight for the 9-14th spots,
starting on Friday along with the matches in the main round comprising two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will enter semis.
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