Asian Games | Indian men's handball team overwhelmed by Chinese Taipei in opening match

The participation of the Indian men's handball team had been in controversy before it was approved to go into the Asian Games 2018 and the team had to experience defeat in the very opening match of the tournament. The main events as per dates are scheduled to start on August 18, but football and handball events have started from Monday itself.

In the handball event, a total of four groups have been with India being placed in Group D alongside Chinese Taipei and Iraq. In the women's team, however, there will be a total of 10 teams clashing with each other and India is coming under Group A alongside South Korea, Kazakhstan, China and North Korea. After the men's team's dismal start, the Indian women's handball team would be hoping for a better opening when they take on Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

The Indian men's handball team having ranked 12th was not qualified for the participation in the Asian Games as the eligibility criteria was to rank eighth or higher for earning a berth in the event. However, as Australia, Uzbekistan, China, Oman, and UAE withdrew from the event, it elevated India to the seventh rank.

The Handball Federation, consequently, seeking to get their team in the event, appealed to IOA stating this reason. The Indian men's handball team got the clearance after the Allahabad High Court intervened in the process with IOA forced to slash and chop players from other disciplines in order to accommodate them.