Germany finished third in Group III of the main round at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with a win over the People’s Republic of China, 38:25, after the Asian side delivered an impressive first half, leading for the first 15 minutes.

MAIN ROUND
GROUP III
People’s Republic of China vs Germany 25:38 (18:19)

The People’s Republic of China are definitely one of the surprise packages at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, making the main round with a one-goal win over Czechia, which was definitely the biggest shock of the competition. 

The progress made under coach Suzana Lazovic is palpable, regardless of the double-digits losses against Sweden and France, and was proven once again in the last match of the main round, against Germany, where China boasted a three-goal lead after 15 minutes, 12:9, leaving the European side dumbfounded.

It was a mix of excellent defence and a fantastic attacking display, with the Asian side scoring 12 times in the first 15 minutes, as centre back Xuedan Liu dictated the tempo, a fast-paced one which Germany could not match, with Liu scoring four times and delivering four assists in the first half.

But then Germany bounced back, first with a 6:0 run, with back Nieke Kühne scoring twice, and goalkeeper Marie Kristin Weiss starting racking up easy saves, improving her overall number to 12 and a 38% saving efficiency by the 40th minute. However, China had one last push in themselves, cutting the gap to a single goal at the break, 19:18, with Germany needing to up their tempo to secure the win.

Once again, China’s lack of depth was their undoing in this match, especially in the second half, where Germany delivered a 13:4 start, with right wing Gianina Estella Bianco excelling on fast breaks, scoring four goals in that span, to create a 10-goal lead, 32:22.

As the rhythm slowed down at the end of the match, all of Germany’s outfield players scored at least one goal, with Bianco and fellow wing Magdalena Probst becoming their team’s top scorers, with six goals each, while goalkeeper Zoe Lorisch finished the match with seven saves and a 58% saving efficiency.

Germany clinched their third win of the competition, 38:25, and finished third, but China should be proud of their performance, despite another double-digits loss, putting serious pressure on an established European side for at least a half.

Germany will surely lament their losses against France and Sweden, but will now head to the Placement Matches 9-12, where they face Romania in a bid to secure a top-10 placement, which the team which wins this match will do.

On the other hand, the People’s Republic of China will play in the Placement Matches 13-16, with the Asian side locking horns with Egypt in the first match.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Marie Kristin Weiss (Germany)