There are less than 45 days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which may seem like a long time to go, but the 24 participating teams in the men’s and women’s competitions are starting to feel the pressure and are ready to go towards the final hurdles before the throw off.

With so little time to go until the start, preparations are in full fledge and with a 14-player roster to be decided (Aa athletes), plus three substitutions available (Ap alternate athletes), the coaches for the participating teams have had to make some difficult decisions before the start of the competition, which will be hosted by the South Paris Arena 6 in France’s capital and the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, from the knockout phase.

In contrast to IHF World Championships, the number of athletes at the Olympic Games is limited by the IOC. The IHF has, however, successfully managed to increase the quota of players from 14 Aa athletes + 1 Ap alternate athlete to 14 Aa athletes + 3 Ap alternate athletes. Each Ap alternate athlete can replace an Aa athlete in case of injury or sickness. Once replaced, an athlete cannot take part in the competition again.

Tough choices for the coaches

Reigning champions France have called up 21 players for their training camp in Capbreton, before moving to Pau and Rennes ahead of the showdown in Paris and Lille. “There have been changes in three years, but the players who have arrived since then have shown during the last competitions that they were able to win. We must still remember that we are the reigning world champions. There will be choices to make, since we are moving from a list of sixteen, or even eighteen, to a list of fourteen where each change will be definitive. I'm not leaving with a pre-defined idea of anything, especially since even if the Games are close, two months is still a long time,” said coach Olivier Krumbholz.

Stars like Estelle Nze Minko, Grace Zaadi, Chloe Valentini or Pauletta Foppa are not missing from the squad, with France having the best line-up available to tackle an impressive feature, where they aim to seal back-to-back Olympic titles.

The runners-up at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, Norway, have also called up 19 players to their initial squad, with the 2023 IHF Female World Player of the Year, Henny Reistad, leading the line. This will also be the last edition of the Olympic Games for centre back Stine Bredal Oftedal before her retirement, as Norway will face France in a doubleheader on 4 and 6 July, in Pau.

Denmark’s coach, Jesper Jensen, also announced a 17-player squad, with 14 players and three reserves ready to take the Scandinavian side to another medal. “It has been exciting over time, but it has also been wild. Crazy with so many emotions at play among the players who have fought to join. We have gone after putting the best possible team that can be successful at the Olympics, and in the process you are going to disappoint some players. It has been hard. We have been careful and serious, but it has been the most difficult task in my time as coach,” said Denmark’s coach, Jesper Jensen.

Sweden have also selected 17 players, with several stars on display in the competition, which are vying for their maiden Olympic medal for the women’s team.

“Selecting a squad for a championship is always difficult, for the Olympics it is even tougher as the squad can only consist of 14 players and three reserves. We have some injuries to established players which would have made this puzzle even more difficult for me and Johanna Wiberg to put together,” said Sweden’s coach, Tomas Axner.

Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands have also selected their provisional squads, with the training camps and friendly matches prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games revealing the final answers for the coaches.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Women's competition - Provisional rosters

DENMARK

Goalkeepers: Althea Reinhardt (Odense Håndbold), Sandra Toft (Györi Audi ETO KC), Anna Kristensen (Team Esbjerg)

Wings: Trine Østergaard (CSM București), Emma Friis (Ikast Håndbold)

Backs: Anne Mette Hansen (Metz Handball), Line Haugsted (Györi Audi ETO KC), Mette Tranborg (Team Esbjerg), Kristina Jørgensen (Metz Handball), Louise Vinter Burgaard (Metz Handball), Simone Petersen (Ikast Håndbold), Mie Højlund (Odense Håndbold), Michala Møller (Team Esbjerg), Helena Elver (Odense Håndbold)

Line players: Sarah Iversen (Ikast Håndbold), Rikke Iversen (Team Esbjerg), Katrine Heindahl, (Team Esbjerg)

SWEDEN

Goalkeeper: Johanna Bundsen (IK Sävehof), Evelina Eriksson (CSM București), Jessica Ryde (Les Neptunes de Nantes)

Wings: Elin Hansson (Horsens Håndbold), Mathilda Lundström (Silkeborg-Voel KFUM), Nathalie Hagman (SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea)

Backs: Jamina Roberts (Vipers Kristiansand), Kristin Thorleifsdóttir (Horsens Håndbold), Tyra Axnér (Nykøbing Falster HK), Carin Strömberg (Neptunes de Nantes), Jenny Carlson (Brest Bretagne HB), Nina Koppang (IK Sävehof), Emma Lindqvist (Ikast Håndbold), Olivia Löfqvist (Storhamar Elite Handball), Linn Hansson (Önnereds HK)

Line players: Linn Blohm (Györi Audi ETO KC), Sofia Hvenfelt (SG BBM Bietigheim)

SLOVENIA

Goalkeepers: Amra Pandžić (CS Minaur Baia Mare), Maja Vojnovič (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Dijana Đajić (Krim Mercator Ljubljana)

Wings: Emma Abina (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Tamara Mavsar (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Ema Markovič (ŽRK Z'dežele), Alja Varagić (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Maja Svetik (BT Füchse)

Backs: Elizabeth Omoregie (CSM București), Ana Abina (ŽRK Mlinotest Ajdovščina), Nena Cernigoj (ŽRK Mlinotest Ajdovščina), Ana Gros (Györi Audi ETO KC), Ema Hrvatin (BSV Sachsen Zwickau), Barbara Lazović (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Erin Novak (Várda Kézilabda KFT Kisvárda), Nina Spreitzer (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Tjaša Stanko (Krim Mercator Ljubljana)

Line players: Valentina Klemenčič (Krim Mercator Ljubljana), Nataša Ljepoja (SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea), Manca Jurič (Krim Mercator Ljubljana).

NORWAY

Goalkeepers: Marie Davidsen (CSM București), Silje Solberg-Østhassel (Gyøri Audi ETO KC), Katrine Lunde (Vipers Kristiansand)

Wings: Emilie Margrethe Hovden (Gyøri Audi ETO KC), Sanna Solberg-Isaksen (Team Esbjerg), Marit Jacobsen (Team Esbjerg), Camilla Herrem (Sola HK)

Backs: Veronica Kristiansen (Gyøri Audi ETO KC), Stine Bredal Oftedal (Gyøri Audi ETO KC), Stine Ruscetta Skogrand (Ikast Handbold), Nora Mørk (Team Esbjerg), Kristine Breistøl (Team Esbjerg), Henny Ella Reistad (Team Esbjerg), Live Rushfeldt Deila (Team Esbjerg), Ingvild Bakkerud (Ikast Handbold), Thale Rushfeldt Deila (Odense Håndbold)

Line players: Maren Aardahl (Odense Håndbold), Vilde Mortensen Ingstad (CSM București), Kari Brattset Dale (Gyøri Audi ETO KC)

HUNGARY

Goalkeepers: Blanka Böde-Bíró (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Kinga Janurik (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Zsófi Szemerey (Motherson-Mosonmagyaróvári KC)

Wings: Viktória Győri-Lukács (Győri Audi ETO KC), Dorottya Faluvégi (SG BBM Bietigheim), Gréta Márton (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Nadine Szöllősi-Schatzl (Győri Audi ETO KC)

Backs: Katrin Klujber (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Anna Albek (Motherson-Mosonmagyaróvári KC), Nikolett Papp (SCM Gloria Buzău), Kinga Debreczeni-Klivinyi (Moyra-Budaörs), Petra Simon (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Petra Vámos (DVSC Schaeffler), Csenge Kuczora (Praktiker-Vác), Gréta Kácsor (DVSC Schaeffler), Szandra Szöllősi-Zácsik (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Gréta Juhász (Kisvárda Master Good SE)

Line players: Réka Bordás (Praktiker-Vác), Petra Füzi-Tóvizi (DVSC SCHAEFFLER), Noémi Pásztor (Motherson-Mosonmagyaróvári KC)

FRANCE

Goalkeepers: Floriane André (Neptunes de Nantes), Cléopatre Darleux (Brest Bretagne Handball), Laura Glauser (CSM București), Hatadou Sako (Metz Handball)

Wings: Coralie Lassource (Brest Bretagne Handball), Chloé ValentinI (Metz Handball), Lucie Granier (Metz Handball), Alicia Toublanc (Brest Bretagne Handball), Pauline Coatanea (Brest Bretagne Handball)

Backs: Orlane Kanor (Rapid București), Estelle Nze Minko (Győri Audi ETO KC), Tamara Horacek (Neptunes de Nantes), Méline Nocandy (Paris 92), Grace Zaadi (CSM București), Laura Flippes (CSM București), Léna Grandveau (Neptunes de Nantes), Déborah Lassource (Paris 92), Océane Sercien-Ugolin (Vipers Kristiansand)

Line players: Sarah Bouktit (Metz Handball), Pauletta Foppa (Brest Bretagne Handball, Oriane Ondono (Neptunes de Nantes)

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Goalkeepers: Park Sae-young (Samcheok City Hall) Lee Min-ji (SK) Jeong Jin-hee (Seoul City Hall)

Wings: Seo A-ru (Gwangju Urban Corporation) Jeong Ga-hee (Busan Facilities Corporation) Shin Eun-joo (Incheon City Hall), Kim Ha-kyung (SK) Jeon Ji-yeon (Samcheok City Hall) Song Ji-young (Seoul City Hall)

Backs: Kim Da-young, (Busan Facilities Corporation), Shin Jin-mi (Busan Facilities Corporation), Han Miseul (Incheon City Hall) Su-yeon Cho (Seoul City Hall), Jo Eun-bin (Seoul City Hall), Woo Bit-na (Seoul City Hall) Kang Gyeong-min (SK), Ryu Eun-hee (Győri Audi ETO KC), Lee Hye-won (Busan Facilities) Corporation) Kang Eun-seo (Incheon City Hall)

Line players: Kang Eun-hye (SK) Kim Bo-eun (Samcheok City Hall) Song Hae-ri (Busan Facilities Corporation)

NETHERLANDS

Goalkeepers: Rinka Duijndam (Győri Audi ETO KC), Yara ten Holte (Odense Handbold)

Wings: Angela Malestein (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), Bo van Wetering (Odense Handbold), Nathalie Hendrikse (Thüringer HC), Zoë Sprengers (Borussia Dortmund)

Backs: Lois Abbingh (Vipers Kristiansand), Kelly Dulfer (SG BBM Bietigheim), Laura van der Heijden (Chambray Touraine Handball), Dione Housheer (Odense Handbold), Kim Molenaar (København Håndbold), Larissa Nusser (Odense Handbold), Inger Smits (SG BBM Bietigheim), Estavana Polman (Rapid București).

Line players: Tamara Haggerty (DVSC Schaeffler), Nikita van der Vliet (Odense Handbold).

SPAIN

Goalkeepers: Mercedes Castellanos (Costa del Sol Málaga), Nicole Wiggins (OGC Nice Handball), Darly Zoqbi (SCM Craiova)
 
Wings: Marta López (CS Rapid București), Maitane Etxeberria (Super Amara Bera Bera), Paulina P. Buforn (Conservas Orbe Rubensa Porriño), Jennifer Gutiérrez (CSM București), Soledad López (Costa del Sol Málaga)

Backs: Carmen Campos (BVB Dortmund), Silvia Arderius (Costa del Sol Málaga), Alicia Fernández (CS Rapid București), María Prieto (Caja Rural Aula Valladolid), Paula Arcos (Vipers Kristianstad) y Mireya González (HC Dunărea Brăila), Lara González (CS Rapid București), Danila So Delgado (AtticGo Elche), Alexandrina C. Barbosa (Brest Bretagne Handball)

Line players: Eli Cesáreo (Costa del Sol Málaga), Kaba Gassama (SG BBM Bietigheim), Lysa Tchaptchet (Vipers Kristianstad)