France needed a win against the Netherlands to secure a quarter-finls berth at the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, but a disappointing outing in attack saw the reigning European champions miss out on the win, conceding their first loss at China 2024, 24:23.

With Japan taking a 30:19 win against Brazil, the situation in Group II just got more complicated, as the Asian side are unbeaten and are on the top of the group, with four points, followed by the Netherlands and France, with two points.

In the Group II of the President’s Cup, Kosovo and the Republic of Korea each sealed wins, to enhance their chances to finish first – the two teams are tied on four points – and remain in the hunt for the chance to battle for the trophy.

MAIN ROUND GROUP II

• Japan vs Brazil 30:19 (14:12)
• France vs Netherlands 23:24 (8:11)

PRESIDENT’S CUP GROUP II

• Kosovo vs Canada 26:20 (9:12)
• Republic of Korea vs India 40:14 (19:4)

What happened: Japan enhanced the chances to secure their maiden quarter-finals berth since the format was introduced at the IHF Women’s Youth World Championship and finish between the first eight teams in the world at this age category for the first time since 2006, after they remained unbeaten for the fourth consecutive match at China 2024.

The Asian side, continental champions last summer, delivered another fantastic performance against Brazil, albeit pulling away only in the second half, with a clear 30:19 win. Centre back Yume Matsumoto scored nine times, while the two goalkeepers, Hirari Fujiwara and Karen Segakuchi, had a 43% saving efficiency, to lift Japan to a fantastic second half, where they conceded only seven goals.

Japan’s qualification could have been confirmed if France won against the Netherlands, but the Dutch side clinched a 24:23 win, which will see Japan through only if they do not lose by eight goals or more in the last match against France, in the case the Netherlands beat Brazil.

France looked like the favourites against the Netherlands, but they had a slow start, with only a 38% attacking efficiency in the first half, missing too many shots to take the lead. But they hovered around the Netherlands, which had a stronger finish in the first 30 minutes, to take a surprising three-goal lead, 12:9, and take the match to France, the reigning European champions, which woul have sealed a quarter-finals berth with the win. Nevertheless, France bounced back, as Prunelle Kingué had six goals, and tied the score, 17:17, with 15 minutes to go, having the chance to go ahead, only for centre back Claire Koestner to miss a one-on-one shot with goalkeeper Anne de Boer. The Netherlands had 27 turnovers in the match, but their mistakes were not punished by France, which eventually conceded a 23:24 loss, their first at China 2024, which will leave a mark, but does not dent France’s chances necessarily, as they face a must-win match against Japan in the last day of the main round.

Two matches were also played in Group II of the President’s Cup, with Kosovo building a two-match winning streak, after coming from behind against Canada. The North American side had a three-goal lead at the break, 12:9, but Kosovo delivered a better second half, fueled by seven goals from seven shots from Sara Gjergjaj and 13 saves from goalkeeper Leyla Hysjeni, who had a 48% saving efficiency. With the 26:20 win, Kosovo are now on four points and will finish the competition between the 17th and 24th place, as they cannot fall lower than the second place in the standings of the group.

In the second match, the Republic of Korea, fresh after scoring 66 goals against Canada, a new record for the IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, secured another big win, this time against another Asian side, India. The reigning champions, now fighting in the President’s Cup, were not that prolific in attack, but they still managed to put 40 goals past their opponents in the 40:14 win, despite their top scorers, Jimin Kim and Yeseo Lee failing to score one goal.

Stat of the day: 4 - the largest unbeaten streak by Japan at the IHF Women's Youth World Championship was set in their 30:19 win against Brazil

What’s next: Japan and France are going to meet on Tuesday, when the main round ends at China 2024, in a do-or-die match for the European side.