South Korea became the third team to forfeit a match at the Asian Men's Handball Championship in Dammam due to COVID-19 as opponents Qatar were awarded a 10-0 victory ©Getty Images

South Korea became the third nation to fall victim to a forfeit at the Asian Men's Handball Championship in Dammam, with their match with favourites Qatar not going ahead due to several positive COVID-19 cases in the team.

Vietnam and Australia suffered the same fate previously in the Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cup - the second-tier group stage tournament.

Australia had to withdraw from all three matches in their group due to positive cases, while Vietnam forfeited one.

Qatar was automatically handed a 10-0 victory, meaning they finished top of Group I undefeated and booked their spots in the semi-finals.

Joining them in the final four was hosts Saudi Arabia, who defeated Uzbekistan 31-24 at the Ministry of Sports Hall.

South Korea finished third and Uzbekistan fourth.

In Group II, Bahrain won their final match 36-26 over Iran, with both nations already qualified for the semi-finals.

Iraq claimed third on goal difference after drawing 25-25 with Kuwait.

They were seven points behind at half-time, but their second-half performance tied the match and a spot in the fifth-place playoff against South Korea.

If South Korea has to withdraw from the fifth-place playoff, Iraq will qualify for the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship.

Uzbekistan are due to play Kuwait.

In the semi-finals, Qatar are scheduled to play Iran and Saudi Arabia face Bahrain on Saturday (January 29).

All four semi-finalists qualified for the World Championship by qualifying from their groups.