Croatia edge over South Korea in handball worlds' opener

Croatia edge over South Korea in handball worlds' opener

BELGRADE, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 21st Men's World Handball Championships kicked off in the Croatian seaside resort of Split on Friday evening, with the host team edging out South Korea in the opening match.

Croatia's captain Petar Metlicic scored twice in the last moments to help the host win the match with the score of 27:26 before a crowd of 12,000 in the Spaladium Arena in Split.

"I am pleased only with the victory and the points, but this meeting must be a big warning for us," Croatian coach Lino Cervar told the press conference after the match.

Confronted with quick and persistent Asian champion, Croatian handballers were nervous from the start and entered the last five minutes of match with a disadvantage of 23:25.

With the encouragement of the audience, Croatians managed to equalize the score three and a half minutes before the end.

South Korea still managed to lead over Croatia with a score from Yunsuk Oh in the 58th minute. But Metlicic leveled and threw in the winning ball in the 59th.

Twenty-four teams will be participating in the event, which will be held in seven cities, including Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Varazdin, Porec, Zadar and Pula. The teams are divided into four preliminary groups and the first three of each group advance to the main round.

The final match for the world champion is to be held at the Zagreb Arena on Feb. 1.

Croatia, which won the world championship in Portugal in 2003 and gold medals at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, has vowed to make it to at least the finals.

Group A is comprised of France, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Australia and Argentina.

Group B includes host Croatia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Kuwait and Cuba.

Group C has Macedonia, Russia, Germany, Poland, Tunisia and Algeria.

Group D is consisted of Denmark, Norway, Serbia, Brazil, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.