Success for Georgian Handball team

Georgia is fighting for the top spot in a Handball World Cup qualifying tournament after a successful campaign.

Georgia defeated the current group leader Lithuania 26-23 in its last home game in the 2015 World Handball Championship qualifier in Tbilisi on Wednesday.

This meant the Georgians had won all of their home games, after having defeated Turkey 33-26 earlier this month and Finland 26-19 in November.

The hosts led by three points at halftime (15-12) but the visitors became more active after the break. They reduced the score difference to one point on two occasions but after a tough battle the Georgian players won the game.

The most active player of the match was Rati Mskhvilidze of Georgia, who scored 18 times.

The Georgians will test their abilities in their final group match in Finland on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, Lithuania still leads the group with three wins, one draw and one defeat. Georgia has won three games and lost two.

However, Georgia still has a chance to take first place in the group. To do so, they must beat Finland on Saturday, and Lithuania must lose a home game against Turkey on Sunday.

The group winner will join 22 other qualifiers for the Mens 2015 World Handball Championship in Qatar.

Even though it is unlikely the current group leader, Lithuania, will succumb to Turkey, the Georgians have said they still feel happy about the results, as the national team had not played a game in four years.