The Verde Complex in Podgorica, Montenegro welcomes the first of two Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 Tournaments when the men of Chile, Norway, Brazil and Republic of Korea open up their quest for a place in Japan later today.

After being switched from Norway due to COVID-19 regulations, the tournament is one of the most diverse, with the continents of South America, Europe and Asia doing battle.

Chile vs Republic of Korea 17:30 CET

Despite recent disappointing rankings, including the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship (27th) in Egypt, the South American nation of Chile will fancy their chances against Korea in their opening game as they aim to qualify for an Olympic Games for the first time. 

In fact, Chile beat Korea at Egypt 2021 (44:33), although their opponents were essentially an U23 team due to COVID-19 restrictions back in the Asian nation.

The South American side will be doing all they can to ensure Chilean handball legend Marco Oneto can end his career on a high after the 38-year-old came out of retirement for Egypt.

“With Korea we know that it will not be the same team that we faced [in Egypt], but it will be more of the same,” said Chile’s Erwin Feuchtmann to TNT Sports. “If we are organised in defence, tough and with good blocking, I think we can beat them.”

Looking to ensure that does not happen, through scoring goals, will be Korea’s left back Park Kwang Soon, who finished as top scorer for the third consecutive season in the Korean men’s handball league and also took the regular league MVP title.

The 24-year-old is one of the talented next generation of Korean players and his powerful play will be important for his nation to succeed in Montenegro.

“We faced Chile at the World Championship in January, but I don't think they showed everything they could – they are a team with fast speed,” said coach Korea Kang Il Koo to ihf.info.

Norway vs Brazil 20:00 CET

As if to remind Norway of their Olympic qualification failings almost immediately, they face Brazil in their opening game in Podgorica, with the South American nation bringing back bad memories for the Europeans.

11 of the players named in Christian Berge’s Norwegian squad failed in the Rio 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournament, while the side also missed out via the qualification tournament route in 2008 with a team featuring captain Bjarte Myrhol and Borge Lund, now assistant coach.

Even though recent medals have elevated the Norwegian men’s side – two World Championship silver medals (2017, 2019) and a bronze European championship medal (2020) – they have only ever appeared at one Olympic Games – Munich 1972.

The last time Brazil’s men found themselves in an Olympic Games Qualification Tournament was back in 2012 where they missed out, but after qualifying automatically as hosts for Rio 2016, they gained their highest Olympic Games final ranking – seventh place.

“We are ready to play a great Olympic Qualification Tournament and will enter the court to seek classification at all costs,” said Brazil coach Marcus Oliveira to the Brazilian Handball Federation.

“Norway are a very high-quality team, who are the top echelon of world handball…we have the conditions for classification, but we will only succeed if we are very applied all the time.”

Brazil and Norway have played seven times, with six Norwegian wins, including a 30:26 victory last time out in a pre-Germany/Denmark 2019 warm-up.