Jakarta: Indian men’s handball team’s poor run at the Asian Games continued as they lost to Iraq 29-40 in a Group D game here on Wednesday.

The third defeat on the trot also meant the Indians failed to qualify for the main round. India lost all three of their group games and finished rock bottom. They will now play in the classification round.

Iraq were always in control as they led 19-13 at the half-time and continued the good run in the second period of play to score a comfortable win.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had initially decided not to send the men’s handball team as it was ranked 12th in Asia. The IOA was against sending a team not ranked in the top-eight spot in Asia.

But the pullout of Australia, Uzbekistan, the UAE, China and Oman meant India were ranked number seven. The Handball Federation of India cited this logic and the IOA finally gave the nod after the intervention of the Allahabad High Court.

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