In their last game of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, Czechia and the Republic of Korea played out a thriller as both looked to end their main round campaign with a win.

The lead changed multiple times throughout the game until the final 10 minutes when the Czechia attack were ruthless to ensure a four-goal win as Korea wasted opportunities in attack.

Main Round, Group IV
Republic of Korea vs Czechia 28:32 (15:15)

With key players missing due to injury and rest, Korea included three 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship winning players in their squad of 18 and had a slow start to their Germany/Netherlands 2025 campaign as the mixed of players got used to each other.

However, since moving to Dortmund from Trier, Korea have shown their potential in moments and against Czechia those moments were strung together for an impressive performance.

But the Asian silver medallists found themselves six down (12:6) in the 14th minute as the European side exerted their influence with Korea goalkeeper Jinhui Jeong unable to stop their shots.

Korea coach Lee Kyechung made the change, moving to Park Saeyoung to protect his goal with the 2014 junior world champion making six out of nine saves in the first half to allow the attackers options down the other end and they pulled the deficit back, even going ahead (15:14, 29th minute) just before the half.

The second half saw the teams locked with each other, both failing to take advantages handed to them. 

Once such occasion saw Korea go ahead again in the 45th minute (23:22) after Klara Kubalkova received a two-minute suspension for a foul on Korea captain Yeongyeong Lee, but the game kept swapping leads, Eliska Desortova moving her side 24:23 ahead and in possession, but they could not capitalise and the game stayed tight.

However, the final 10 minutes saw the game get away from Korea’s grasp as two hit posts and a Czechia save allowed the Europeans to score unanswered goals to move the game to three in their favour (28:25, 55th minute) and put the game to bed, despite two late time-outs from Kyechung.

Yeongyeong Lee and Charlotte Cholevova ended as top-scorers in the game with eight goals each, Cholevova winning the best player award as voted by fans.

hummel Player of the Match: Charlotte Cholevová (Czechia)