2022 could be the time for Argentina’s women to win their first senior global gold medal. In 2017 they came close.

At The World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, they faced the historically-best Brazil in the final and lost, but five years later that will not happen again.

And it is thanks to Argentina themselves. They defeated their neighbours for the first time in the South and Central America championships to book their The World Games ticket at the expense of Brazil, who had appeared in all previous five editions.

However, on the eve of the event, Denmark’s flights were cancelled and they were unable to secure a replacement flight, plus Vietnam were unable to secure their visas in time.

This means that the women’s preliminary group stage at The World Games 2022 was adjusted and it will now consist of a round-robin group of six teams instead of the two planned groups of four teams each. 

So, for all their pre-tournament preparation, it means Argentina will now face United States of America, Australia, Norway, Germany and Mexico in a round-robin tournament.

They know some of the teams very well, having played them only last month at the 2022 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Greece.

This included a 2-0 victory over Australia, a 0-2 loss (16:18, 15:19) against eventual world champions Germany and a 2-1 (8:4 shoot-out) victory over Norway.

At the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, Argentina’s women won gold and there is a big influence from that home-based championship-winning side running through the squad which features a crucial mix of youth and experience.

Key to that is Gisella Bonomi, who finished as the top scorer for the South Americans in Greece, with 92 points.

Coach Salvador Comparone has changed two players in his squad of 10 from Greece for Birmingham.  

Experienced specialist Ivana Eliges returns to the team to replace Lucilas Balsas, who will miss the tournament due to a problem with her visa while Micaela Corimberto replaces Giuliana Gamba, and is set to make her official debut.
 

Key Players: Fiorella Corimberto (left wing), Gisela Bonomi (pivot)

Qualification for Birmingham 2022: South and Central America Women’s Beach Handball Championship – 1st place

History in tournament: 2001-2013: DNQ, 2017: 2nd