The 25th IHF Women’s World Championship got underway at the Palau d’Esports de Granollers with Republic of Korea easing to a 14-goal victory over Congo, who were returning to senior world championship action for the first time since 2009.

Even though they are in the early days of a rebuilding phase with an eye on the Olympic Games Paris 2024, interim coach Jang In-ik saw his Korea side put in an impressive performance, despite some early second half nervousness.

GROUP F
Republic of Korea vs Congo 37:23 (22:11)

Ahead of Spain 2021, the Korean Handball Federation had announced that for the first time in their history they would be seeking a foreign coach to guide their women’s team to former glory.

And it was their two foreign-based players who ran their show in Granollers as they eased to a comprehensive win against their African counterparts. Led by newly installed captain, Lee Migyeong, who plays her club handball for OMRON in Japan, and Ryu Eun-hee, who plays for Hungarian side Gyor, Korea found it too easy to cut through a porous Congolese defence.

A typical passage of attacking play involved Lee receiving the ball deep in her own half combining with the left side of the Korean offence before delivering a pass to Ryu who then helped set up a variety of options both on the line – mainly with Kim Sora (Korea’s top scorer with 6 goals from 6 attempts) – and wings.

Younes Tatby’s side could not cope with the attacking threat but did not help themselves in front of goal either, averaging around a 50% effectiveness once they got their shots off against the Asian defence, which, as usual was open and aggressive.

By the 15th minute, Korea had threatened to run away with the game (11:6) after a 3:0 run which saw a full-length pass from Oh Sara in the Korean goal dispatched by Jo Suyeon followed by a no-look assist from Ryu for Kim Sora and then a Congolese turnover punished by a classic Korean fast-break.

At 12:6, Tatby took his first time out – and the stats said all you needed to know: Congo had scored just six of their 12 opportunities. By the 23rd minute Korea had amassed their first double figure lead (18:8) and they took an 11-goal lead into the half-time break.

A nervy start in the second half where Congo outscored their opponents 2:6 (17:24) saw In-ik take an early time out and this was enough to settle any remaining doubt as Korea utilised their entire bench – including a number of new players – doing enough to keep well in front as Ryu and Lee headed to the bench with just under 15 minutes remaining, their job done.

Paris 92-bound Josephine Nkou was Congo’s top-scorer with five goals. 

hummel Player of the Match: Lee Migyeong, Republic of Korea