Can Argentina complete the medal set and grab women’s gold?

The last two appearance at The World Games for Argentina’s women have seen podium spots – a silver in 2017 and bronze last time out, in 2022, so could 2025 be the year they grab gold?

Leticia Brunati’s team are certainly well-placed to do so having recorded their best-ever ranking at an IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship last year when they lost the final to Germany to finish second.

That final was also played in China so the omen could be on the side of the South Americans who have steadily asserted themselves as the pre-eminent contender from the continent, surpassing the historically-strong Brazilian women.

Argentina were drawn into a preliminary group in Chengdu featuring the hosts, China, alongside Croatia and Portugal – three teams they have never faced in The World Games, but who they have faced in China, just least year at the world championship – Brunati’s side beating Croatia 2-0 in the preliminary group and both China and Portugal 2-0 in the main round.

“We'll play against Croatia, Portugal and China in almost the same group that we played in at the last world championship,” said Brunati, Head Coach of the Argentina women to ihf.info.

“All of our force will be focused on trying to reach the semi-finals, but we know that is really hard in The World Games because there are five European teams. They all played in the European Championship recently, so they are going to be at a good level when they get to Chengdu. But, as usual, we will do our best to leave Argentina as high and as ready as possible.”

With the winter in full swing in Argentina, Brunati took a 16-women squad to Obera in the north-east Misiones province of the country in search of warmer weather and a training camp which also included friendly matches against Misiones representative youth side Tiki Tiki and the senior side of local team, AEMO.

The squad did not include the recently-retired, long-term players goalkeeper Florencia Bericio and Agustina Mirotta, who will be a miss in Asia, but the depth of the South American squad – now reduced to 10 for China – shows how much the sport has developed in the county.

In total, Brunati made four changes to her 2024 World Championship squad, with the returning Agostina Arcajo, Florencia Gallo and Giuliana Gamba and the addition of new goalkeeper Constanza Suarez, who is replacing Bericio.

“The World Games means the world to us,” said Bonomi to ihf.info. “It represents our work, every drop of sweat and every effort and sacrifice we have made through the years to accomplish our dreams, now it is time to demonstrate what we are made of. Last time we won bronze but now we are focussed, more stronger and ready to fight for more.”

Coach: Leticia Brunati
Key players: Lucila Balsas (Specialist), Zoe Turnes (Pivot), Gisella Bonomi (Pivot)
Qualification information: 2nd – 2024 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship
History in tournament: 2001-2013: DNQ, 2017: 2nd, 2022: 3rd
Group at The World Games Chengdu 2025: Group B – Croatia, Portugal, Argentina, People’s Republic of China