(MENAFN- The Peninsula) chinthana wasala |
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Two-time champions Al Duhail yesterday kicked off their 2023 Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship with a dominant 39-26 win over RKOR Tashkent, in Isfahan, Iran.
At the Naghsh-e-Jahan Arena, the Qatar League champions started on a bright note and built a strong lead of 20-8 in the first half. The Uzbek side fought well in the second half but Al Duhail continued to be in the driving seat and scored 19 goals in the session to secure full points.
Al Duhail, who have reached the finals of the prestigious tournament on four occasions, will take on Bahrain's Al Najma SC in their second Group B match today.
Group B also includes Al Kuwait Club (Kuwait), Junior Club (China) and Shahid Shameli Kazeroon Club (Iran).
Meanwhile, the second Qatari side, Al Rayyan also recorded a comfortable win in their opening match, overcoming Iran's Sepahan SC 31-23 in Group A.
Al Rayyan will take on India's T-Sports Club in their second match, tomorrow.
Rest of the Group A teams are Oman Club (Oman) and Kazma SC (Kuwait).
Al Rayyan, the winners of the 2012 edition of the championship held in Doha, have finished as runners-up in 2013 after going down to Qatar's El Jaish.
On the other hand, Al Duhail have been crowned Asian champions in 2018 and 2021, and have also won the second place in 2014 and 2017.
Meanwhile, in other match yesterday, Kuwait's Kazma SC prevailed over India's T-Sports Club 43-20 in their opening match. Also yesterday, Kuwait SC defeated Bahrain's Al Najma Club 38-36 after a tough fight. The other match saw Iran's Shahid Shamel Kazeroon Club beating Junior Club of China 39-32.
The winner of the competition will qualify for the 17th IHF Men's Super Globe, to be held from October 17 – 23, 2023, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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