At the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, the Iranian men's team secured its first point after a tense match against South Korea, which ended in a 26–26 draw. This match was the third in the group stage of the tournament.
South Korea, holding the most medals in the history of Asian Games handball, entered the game after defeating Kuwait. The teams of Iran and South Korea, coached by Nenad Klajic, engaged in a very even battle from the first minutes.
During the first half, both teams exchanged goals, and Iran managed to take a slight lead, going into the break with a 14–13 advantage. Iran also started the second half confidently and tried to increase its lead, but South Korea prevented the game from getting out of control. The competition remained balanced until the very last moments.
After the end of the match, the referees awarded South Korea a penalty following a controversial incident. The Koreans converted the free kick, leveling the score at 26–26, which earned both teams points.
This draw marked the first point for Iran's campaign at the Asian Games 2026. Now, Klajic's team will focus on its final group stage match against Kazakhstan on Wednesday, as Iran aims to qualify for the next stage of the competition.
