News / Sports

Iran handball team loses to Spain, fails to win Olympic berth

Sunday, 10 April 2016 12:06 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 10 April 2016 12:05 PM ]

The national Iranian men’s handball team (file photo)

The national Iranian men’s handball team will not be taking part in the forthcoming Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games because of losing to Spain in the Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 in Sweden.

On Saturday evening, the Iranian squad put on a satisfactory display of skills for most part of the first half of the match, which was played at the multi-purpose and indoor Malmo Arena in Sweden’s southern city of Malmo.

The Persians tailed opponents from the European powerhouse by the 24th minute, when the Spaniards grasped a chance to speed off. The Spanish handball players finally grabbed the first half 18-12.

The Spanish side did not relinquish after the breather, and maintained its pressure on Iran’s defense in the second half. The European athletes finally scored to a 37-23 victory over Iran.

Iran men’s national handball team will return to action on Sunday evening, when it takes on Slovenia in its third and last match during the 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Sweden.

The tournament started on April 8 and will wrap up on April 10, 2016. They are currently underway in Poland’s Gdansk, the Swedish city of Malmo as well as Denmark’s Herning on the Jutland Peninsula.

Iran, Sweden, Slovenia and Spain vied in Tournament 2 to secure a berth at the 2016 Men’s Olympic Handball Tournament, which will be held from August 6 to 21 at the Future Arena in the Barra Olympic Park of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Poland, Macedonia, Chile and Tunisia are fighting for two Rio Olympics tickets in Tournament 1 contests that are underway in Gdansk.

Denmark, Croatia, Norway and Bahrain are testing their supremacy during Tournament 3 matches in Hening.

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