Bahrain secured a 35-31 win against Japan in their Asian Games handball clash on September 28th, 2026. The result extends the visitors' unbeaten start to the tournament, keeping them top of the table with eight points from four matches. Japan drop to second place with four points from three games after the defeat.
By then, Bahrain had already demonstrated their form with four consecutive victories. They beat Hong Kong 37-16 on September 26th, followed by a narrow 28-25 win over Kuwait, then 30-21 against South Korea and 34-20 versus Iran. Japan showed more inconsistency, with losses to Kuwait and Qatar breaking up wins against Hong Kong and China.
My prediction favoured the visitors, and here's the thing — I was right. I had Bahrain winning with 68 per cent confidence, and the scoreline reflects their superiority. The hosts never really got out of second gear in terms of pressure, but Bahrain's experience showed through in the final tally.
The visitors now hold every card in terms of positioning, having avoided any slip-up so far. Japan's record before this match stood at two wins and one draw, and while that looks solid on paper, the defeat to Bahrain changes the picture. They'll need to bounce back quickly if they want to challenge for top spot.
What stands out is how Bahrain managed their game. They didn't travel to make up the numbers — this was a proper performance against a team that had shown they could compete. The 31-31 gap between them in the standings before kick-off closed further, and Bahrain now sit two points clear with a game in hand.
