After 72 matches in the 2024 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship, defending champions Germany retained their title, defeating Argentina in the final 2-0.

Netherlands made it a second, successive bronze after their third place at Greece 2022, with the 5-16 placement matches concluding on the final day of action in China.

Eight teams were also confirmed for their return to China, for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.

Final: Argentina vs Germany 0-2 (16:24, 18:21)

Argentina went into the final against 2022 champions Germany with nothing to lose, riding high on a wave of impressive results – a winning run of eight-straight victories as they went for gold, smashing through their previous highest ranking of seventh, but they came up against the experience of Germany which was just enough in the end.

The South Americans had led the first set early on (6:4, 3rd minute), but Germany powered back, scoring eight unanswered points (12:6, 6th minute) as Argentina saw their shots either saved by Nele Kurzke in the German goal or make technical faults.

The German lead was 10 with seconds remaining (24:14) as Argentina looked towards the second set with hope and it was a much tighter affair. In the closing seconds, Germany were 20:18 ahead, with Lucila Balsas in position for Argentina, but 34-year-old Kurzke – who had told IHF.info earlier this week that she was not expecting to get called up to the squad so late in her career – pulled off a strong save, immediately followed by a German time out and it appeared the game was over.

A single pointer from 16-year-old Dilayla Alarslan then put the Germans out of reach at 21:18 and the game was over, further emphasised by a diving Carolin Hübner block as the South American side desperately tried to close the gap.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Hübner about winning the title. “What we did in defence is unbelievable; incredible running and our plan worked out exactly. We put the Argentinians in the situations we wanted, and then we got a lot out of the block at the end.”

For Argentina’s Gisella Bonomi, she was reflective in defeat.

“Experience is what Germany had in this final and that was decisive for winning,” she said. “We didn't do our best match, but we are really happy that we did a great tournament. We had all hopes to win and to be champions, but progressing from seventh at the last world championship and now being second means a lot for us.”

Bronze Medal Match: Netherlands vs Denmark 2-0 (19:18, 22:20)

The Netherlands recorded their second bronze medal in a row, with a 2-0 (19:18, 22:20) win over Denmark. In a shoot-out between two of Beach Handball’s most potent attackers, the Netherlands’ Anna Buter (23 points) topped Line Gyldenlove Kristensen (18). Buter’s Golden Goal at the end of the first set put her side on to their winning ways as the Danes desperately tried to force a shoot-out.

With nine seconds left on the clock and 20:22 down, Denmark took a time out but their attempt in attack to equal it up from the right wing failed when the ball bounced short and over the crossbar.

Despite the disappointment, Denmark recorded their best world championship ranking since 2012, when they finished second.

5-16 Placement Matches

In the placement matches, Spain defeated Portugal to finish inside the top five, while Croatia’s women saw off Brazil in a spirited performance which went to a shoot-out, won 12:10 by the European outfit. Both sides record their lowest-ever ranking at a world championship with sixth the lowest point either had been previously (Croatia in 2004, Brazil in 2022). Despite the disappointment, Beatriz Cruz’s 24 points ensured she ended with the top-scorer at China 2024 award.

Asian champions Vietnam defeated 2016 world champions Greece to finish inside the top 10 with Linh Nguyen Thi Phung scoring 26 points, while the Philippines finished their debut IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in 12th after losing to Norway. Fellow debutants Puerto Rico ended China 2024 with their first win – defeating the USA 2-0 (15:12, 19:16) to finish 15th, thanks to 14 points from Yadelis Johan Barros Feliciano.

Results
Final/Gold Medal Match: ARG vs GER 0-2 (16:24, 18:21)

3/4 Placement/Bronze Medal Match: NED vs DEN 2-0 (19:18, 22:20)

15/16 Placement Match: PUR vs USA 2-0 (15:12, 19:16)
13/14 Placement Match: CHN vs AUS 1-2 (18:20, 21:18, SO 4:7)
11/12 Placement Match: PHI vs NOR 0-2 (6:13, 16:18)
9/10 Placement Match: VIE vs GRE 2-1 (30:28, 24:32, SO 8;6)
7/8 Placement Match: BRA vs CRO 1-2 (15:20, 26:18, SO 10:12)
5/6 Placement Match: POR vs ESP 0-2 (16:18, 8:18)

Final Ranking
1 Germany (GER)*
2 Argentina (ARG)*
3 Netherlands (NED)*
4 Denmark (DEN)*
5 Spain (ESP)*
6 Portugal (POR)*
7 Croatia (CRO)
8 Brazil (BRA)
9 Vietnam (VIE)*
10 Greece (GRE)
11 Norway (NOR)
12 Philippines (PHI)
13 Australia (AUS)
14 People’s Republic of China (CHN)**
15 Puerto Rico (PUR)
16 United States of America (USA)

*Qualified for The World Games 2025
**Qualified for The World Game 2025 as host nation