Hong Kong’s National Games handball heartbreak as hosts lose semi-final to Anhui
City team set to compete for bronze on Monday against Beijing, while Jiangsu keep alive dream of fifth straight title
A tearful Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz was left nursing a sense of what could have been after heartbroken Hong Kong lost a breathless National Games handball semi-final 24-21 to Anhui on Saturday.
In front of another pumped-up Kai Tak Arena crowd, the city team gained a 13-12 advantage shortly after half-time. Pugnacious Anhui led for most of the contest, however, and they stitched together a decisive run of three straight goals from 21-20 in front.
Hong Kong face a daunting bronze-medal match on Monday against Beijing, after Jiangsu staged an extraordinary comeback from 17-10 behind to win the second semi-final 23-22 and keep alive their hopes of a fifth-straight Games title.
Head coach Ekdahl Du Rietz said he had “a deep sense of pride” in his players, but acknowledged that it had been painful to stumble within sight of the final.
“Seeing all these people out there, 6,000 Hongkongers showing up for a handball game, was very touching,” he added.
“It was so close and could have gone either way. That we could be in the semi-finals and make it a tight game until the final few minutes was what I dreamed about.