Unified Korean handball team suffers 2nd straight loss at world championship

All Headlines 09:56 January 13, 2019

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- The unified Korean men's handball team has suffered its second straight defeat at this year's world championship.

Korea fell 34-27 to Russia in a Group A game at the 2019 International Handball Federation (IHF) World Men's Handball Championship at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on Saturday (local time). This was Korea's second defeat at the tournament after dropping its opening game 30-19 against Germany two days ago.

In this AFP photo, Korea's Jo Tae-hun attempts to shoot during the IHF Men's World Championship Group A handball match between Russia and Korea at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on Jan. 12, 2019. (Yonhap)

The 26th edition of the world championship is the first international tournament for a joint Korean handball team. South and North Korea agreed to combined their men's handball teams at a meeting of sports administrators on Nov. 2 last year. The unified team of 16 South Koreans and four North Koreans, coached by South Korea's Cho Young-shin, began training together in Berlin on Dec. 22.

Korea is in Group A with Germany (world No. 1), Russia (world No. 4), France (No. 5), Serbia (No. 6) and Brazil (No. 27) at this 24-team tournament co-hosted by Germany and Denmark. South Korea is No. 19, and North Korea isn't ranked.

Against Russia, Korea finished the first half 20-13. The Koreans cut the deficit as close as five during the second half but couldn't get any closer.

South Korea's Park Kwang-soon and Kang Jeon-gu were the highest scorers for the team with four goals each. No North Koreans scored a goal against Russia.

Korea will play its third group stage game against France on Monday (local time).