KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s handball squad got off to a bad start at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games after they were trounced 11-64 by reigning Asian champions, Qatar in the group A opening match at GOR Popki Cibubur in East Java, Indonesia, today.
Qatar took a comfortable 33-7 lead in the first half before adding 31 points against Malaysia who only managed to add four additional points in the second half of the match.
Malaysia will take on Iran in the second group match on Wednesday at the same venue.
The national women’s squad will kick-off their campaign against hosts Indonesia in the group A match, tomorrow.
The handball event at the Asian Games starts today until Aug 31.