Handball H-League: Incheon Urban Development Eyes 8th Straight Win & Round 2 Title

CHEONGJU, South Korea, December 25, 2023 — Incheon urban Progress Corporation is on the verge of handball history, having secured a remarkable seven consecutive wins in the Shinhan SOL Bank 25-26 Handball H League men’s division and currently leading the standings with 8 wins and 1 loss.

Incheon’s dominant run and upcoming clash with Doosan are captivating fans as the league prepares for a break for the Asian Championships.

Did you know?— Incheon needs just one more win too tie the H-League record for consecutive victories, currently held by Doosan and SK Hawks.

The league’s top team, Incheon Urban Development Corporation, will face a stiff challenge from Doosan at 6 p.m. at SK Hawks Arena in Cheongju. A victory for Incheon would not only extend their winning streak to eight games—matching the H-League record shared by Doosan and SK Hawks—but also secure a clean sweep of the second round.

Doosan,currently in fourth place with 3 wins,1 draw,and 5 losses,proved their resilience with a stunning 31-30 victory over second-place SK Hawks in their previous match,reaffirming their reputation for defying expectations—a sentiment encapsulated by the team’s nickname,“Udu†(Doosan will win anyway).

Team Spotlight—Doosan’s nickname, “Udu,” translates to “Doosan will win anyway,” reflecting the team’s persistent confidence.

In the first-round encounter, Incheon dominated Doosan with a decisive 34-24 win, showcasing powerful fast attacks and a solid defensive performance. Doosan struggled with backcourt firepower and slow transitions in that match.

While Incheon has consistently maintained a cozy lead throughout the season, their recent 31-30 win against Chungnam Provincial Office was a hard-fought battle that went down to the wire. Conversely, Doosan’s triumph over SK Hawks was fueled by tight defense, swift offense-defense transitions, and accurate mid-range shots, with goalkeeper Kim Shin-hak delivering a standout performance with 12 saves.

incheon is expected to maintain its high-tempo offense and quick defensive transitions in this crucial game, relying on the potent backcourt trio of Kim Jin-young, Lee Joseph, and kim Rak-chan.

Doosan, still grappling with injuries, aims to build momentum before the break by securing a positive win percentage. Building on the confidence from their victory against SK Hawks,they plan to disrupt Incheon’s quick attacks with a strong defensive front.

What makes this matchup particularly interesting? Both teams rank highly in fast-attack efficiency, with Incheon leading the league and Doosan in second place, promising a fast-paced and dynamic contest.

Fast Fact—Incheon and Doosan are the league’s top two teams in fast-attack efficiency, setting the stage for a high-speed game.

The day’s schedule also includes a 2 p.m. match between second-place SK Hawks (7 wins, 2 losses) and third-place Hanam City Hall (4 wins, 5 losses).SK Hawks have shown vulnerabilities in their fast-attack defense during the second round, while Hanam has struggled with turnovers and inconsistent performance from center back Lee Byeong-joo.

At 4 p.m., Sangmu Phoenix (2 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses) will face Chungnam Provincial Office (2 wins, 7 losses) in a battle to escape the bottom of the standings. Sangmu recently ended a seven-game losing streak under the leadership of Shin Jae-seop and Cha Hye-seong, despite missing key players Kim Ji-woon and Oh Hwang-je. Chungnam has demonstrated significant betterment in both offense and defense,thanks to the resurgence of Kim tae-gwan and Yuk Tae-kyung,making this match a potentially close encounter.