Bahrain win Asian Beach Games handball opener

Manama : Sayed Shehab Ahmed’s eight goals led Bahrain to a tough 2-1 victory against Thailand in the handball championship at My Khe Beach as the Fifth Asian Beach Games got underway yesterday in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The first quarter ended 17-14 for Bahrain, but Thailand came back in the second, which they eventually won 20-12 thus extending the game into a third and deciding period.

Bahrain, coached by Raed Al Marzooq, made several tactical improvements in the vital stage as his boys put on a superb show to emerge winners 7-4.

Bahrain’s next match is against the highly-favoured Pakistan today noon.

Earlier the games got underway with a colourful opening ceremony and was declared open by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyá»…n Xuân Phúc, in the presence of International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and other high-ranking officials. An array of artistic and musical performances depicting the culture of Vietnam were also held .