Japan Defeats PR of China, Prepares For Main Round

Although already qualified to advance to the main round and securing their best World Championship finish since 1975, the host nation didn’t let those facts deter them from putting together two halves of complete handball to blowout the People’s Republic of China 35:18.

GROUP D
Japan vs PR of China 35:18 (17:8)

The Japanese put this game away early jumping out to a 9:0 lead within the first 11 minutes in the contest. Natsumi Akiyama contributed four goals to that run while Yuki Tanabe added two more. China’s first goal came from Jin Meng Qing only 13 minutes into the match. Her goal sparked a small run that brought the Chinese within six goals but that is as close as they would get for the rest of the match. The goals kept coming for Japan to bring the halftime score to 17:8.

The host nation padded their lead after the half scoring three in a row including two from Akiyama to take a 12 goal advantage. Japan continued to add to their lead throughout the second half getting ahead by as much as 18 points at one point before the final whistle.

Japan shot 70 percent from the field with Akiyama finishing with a game-high eight goals follows by Tanabe with six. Sakura Kamtani shined in goal for the Japanese stopping 11 shots and finishing with a .44 save percentage.

Japan finishes third in Group D with six points (three wins, two losses) while China finishes last with zero points. China will participate in the President’s Cup beginning on Sunday.

hummel Player of the Match: Sakura Kametani, Japan