Asian Games: Oman handball team outlast Iran, beach volleyball team in last 16

Oman handball team pictured during their second round Group 2 match against Iran at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on Wednesday. Oman won 26-25.

Incheon: The Sultanate's handball team continued their winning run with a sensational come-from-behind victory over Iran while beach volleyball squad advanced to the last 16 stage at the Asian Games on Wednesday.

The handball team, who qualified for the second round with excellent victories over China and the United Arab Emirates, were trailing 11-14 at the halfway stage of their Group 2 opening match against Iran.

But the Sultanate squad showing their fighting qualities, rallied back in the second session to take the session at 15-11 and the match with a solitary goal difference.

The team now play their second match of the second round against Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

On the beach volleyball courts, Haitham Al Shereiqi and Ahmed Al Hosni eased past South Korean pair of Daekyoung Kim and Youngmin Cha 21-16, 21-9 in their Pool F match.

In the last 16 stage, the Omani duo will take on a Qatari team on Thursday.

Fatma makes flying start
Oman's tennis star Fatma Al Nabhani made a flying start to her campaign in the women's singles competition with a victory over Nepal's Anne Mathema.

Fatma's second round outing was rather a one-sided affair with the Omani lass brushing aside Mathema 6-0, 6-0.

Fatma also found success in the women's doubles when she teamed up with Sarah Al Balushi to defeat Wing Yau Vensie Chan and Katherine Chang Ip of Hong Kong 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.

However, Fatma's compatriot Omran Mohammed Al Balushi was not so lucky as he lost his first round singles match to Mongolia's Badrakh Munkhbaatar 6-0, 6-1.

Meanwhile, marksman Said Al Hashmi finished at 10th place in the 25m rapid fire pistol qualification stage two after scoring 95, 96, 93 for an aggregate of 284.

Al Hasmi's performance was little below his stage one show when shot identical rounds of 97, 97, 97 (aggregate 291).

Hockey team hopeful
The Omani hockey team will be hoping to record their first victory in Incheon when they square off against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

The Sultanate's squad have so far lost to China (0-5) and India (0-7) but look slightly better than the Sri Lankans who were drubbed by Pakistan (14-0), India (8-0) and China (6-0).