South Korea loses bronze handball game to Japan

South Korea lost to Japan 37-32 in the men's handball bronze medal game at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday, according to The Korea Times.

The defeat left South Korea off the Asian Games men's handball podium for a second consecutive Games, the first such stretch since the sport joined the event in 1982.

The Korea Times reported that the match was played at Entrio in Inazawa, northwest of Nagoya, where Japan took control early and held off South Korea's second-half push.

Japan led 8-2 less than 10 minutes into the first half, according to The Korea Times. South Korea narrowed the gap early in the second half and later moved within 32-28 with about eight minutes remaining.

Japan then scored three consecutive goals to stretch the margin again, The Korea Times reported. South Korea could not complete the comeback and finished without a medal.

South Korea had lost 32-20 to Qatar in Monday's semifinal, according to The Korea Times. Qatar entered as the three-time defending champion.

The Korea Times reported that South Korea had finished tied for fifth at the 2023 Asian Games. The team's last Asian Games men's handball gold medal came in 2010 under head coach Cho Young-shin.

The result extended South Korea's wait for another Asian Games medal in men's handball.