Hungary, Montenegro, Spain and Austria secured big wins in the openers of the second day at the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, as they all got closer to main round berths.

Group B
Paraguay vs Austria 15:29 (9:15)

Austria claimed their second straight win at China 2026, beating Paraguay by 14 goals. If Serbia do not lose to Angola later today, the Austrians will secure their main round berth. In turn, Paraguay are still looking for their maiden points in the tournament.

The European team opened up a 4:1, then 9:3 lead and never looked back. In the first half, Austrian goals were evenly distributed among the players — 10 of them put their names on the scoresheet, but none netted more than twice.

Alessandra Perez's six saves before the break did not allow Austria to pull clear by more than six goals at half-time. Her Austrian counterpart Nina Plavotic did not have much impact, but the team's goalkeeping improved when Elena Dorfinger replaced her in the second half.

Her nine saves and a 60% save rate helped the Europeans extend their lead further. Player of the Match Mathilde Thun became Austria's leading scorer with five goals, while her teammate Martina Maticevic added seven assists to her two goals.

In their last group match on Saturday, Austria will meet Serbia in an all-European duel, while Paraguay will try to open their account against Angola.

Player of the Match: Mathilde Thun (Austria)

Group D
Türkiye v Spain 19:33 (11:18)

Spain once again delivered a dominating performance and will be preparing against their last match in the preliminary round against the Republic of Korea, after securing the second win in a row at China 2024, 33:19, against Türkiye.

Back at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship after 25 years, Türkiye had a good start against the Republic of Korea, losing by only three goals, but the gap between the two sides was clear to be seen in depth and experience, as Joaquin Rocamora Cases won his duel with David Ginesta Montes, in the battle of Spanish coaches in this match.

It was a no-nonsense win from Spain, who pressured constantly in defence, forcing Türkiye to make many mistakes, as Ginesta’s side turned the ball over 26 times throughout the match.

As Spain constantly shifted the formation, giving players more time on the court, the gap grew from 7:3 after 10 minutes, to eight goals in the 26th minute, 17:9, despite their captain, Belen Rodriguez Lario, missing six shots throughout the match, to finish with only two goals.

The gap grew higher and higher in the second half, as the misses piled up for Türkiye, with Spain taking full advantage and having 12 different players scoring at least one goal in their second win in a row, 33:19.

Spain have made another step towards a main round spot, and could confirm it if Korea win against Argentina, with the game against the Asian side being the decider for the team which takes the two points into the next phase of the competition.

Player of the Match: Belen Rodriguez Lario (Spain)

Group F
United States of America v Montenegro 23:52 (12:26)

Montenegro virtually sealed their tickets for the main round of China 2025, with their second win in a row, once again in double-digits, after their excellent performance against Iceland yesterday.

The European side took a healthy lead early in the match and never looked back, as the United States of America conceded once again over 40 goals, in a match which highlighted Montenegro’s firepower, proven in the previous game against Iceland.

This time around, USA’s top goal scorer, Maggie Doherty Dahllof, who had 13 goals against Czechia, could not find the net so easily, as she finished the match with four goals, while Montenegro hit on the fast break, scoring nine times until the 45th minute.

By half-time, the European side had a 14-goal lead, 26:12, which only improved in the second part, as the USA turned the ball over 29 times and enabled their opponents to hit on the fast break.

Goalkeeper Vanja Zivković had 15 saves for a 56% saving efficiency, while left back Ivana Savić once again pulled off a great match, to score seven goals and lift her team to the second win in a row, 52:23

Montenegro will play against Czechia in the last match of the preliminary round, but after their big wins, a place in the next phase is all but guaranteed. On the other hand, the USA are due to play against Iceland, but they are virtually out of contention.

Player of the Match: Vanja Zivković (Montenegro)

Group G 
Tunisia v Hungary 24:32 (10:14)

Hungary made it two out of two at China 2026, but after a free-flowing performance against the Chinese Taipei, they encountered some issues against a plucky Tunisia side, especially in the first half, as the gap between the two sides was only four goals in Hungary’s favour, 14:10.

It was far from a vintage performance by Hungary in those first 30 minutes, despite them having Virág Fazekas back, with the All-Star right back of the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship scoring a single goal in the first part of the match. 

Tunisia applied the same recipe as they did in the first match, against Poland, another European side they played against in the first match, but the second half was the dealbreaker, as Hungary powered through, without impressing too much, rather than taking a match-by-match approach to grow.

Goalkeeper Zelda Horváth, the Player of the Match, had seven saves for a 32% saving efficiency, while Kira Kriston and Fazekas were the top scorers, combining for 10 goals, in Hungary’s 32:24 win.

Hungary face Poland in the last match, while Tunisia meet the Chinese Taipei.

Player of the Match: Zelda Horváth (Hungary)