Spain became the first team at the 2024 IHF Youth Women’s World Championship to book their ticket to the quarter-final following a win over Czechia, 26:19. In the other main round Group IV match, Germany and Switzerland split the points, 23:23, so both sides are still in the race for a place in the knockout phase at China 2024.

MAIN ROUND GROUP IV

•     Spain vs Czechia 26:19 (13:10)
•     Germany vs Switzerland 23:23 (14:12) 

PRESIDENT’S CUP GROUP III

•    Chinese Taipei vs Kazakhstan 28:22 (10:8)
•    Argentina vs Greenland 22:19 (8:8)

What happened: Spain extended their winning run at China 2024 to four matches, as they proved too strong for Czechia, who lost a chance to reach the quarter-final after this defeat but can still qualify for the Placement Matches 9/12. Midway through the first half, the Czech side led 6:5, but Spain turned the tide and pulled clear at 13:10 at half-time. And after the restart, the Spanish team defended well and continued to dominate, with their advantage reaching double digits, 25:15, with 10 minutes to go before they relaxed their approach late in the match. It was a good team performance from Spain, as 11 of their outfield players scored at least once, but none of them netted more than four times. 

Germany might also have secured their quarter-final ticket with a win over Switzerland, but the sides ultimately split the points in a hard-fought encounter. Powered by Marlene Tucholke and Laura Sophie Klocke, who became the team’s top scorers with five goals each, the Germans hit back after a somewhat slow start and won the first half by two goals, 14:12. Early in the second half, Germany extended their lead to 16:13, yet Switzerland refused to give up and mounted a strong comeback, as their left wing Era Baumann had a tally of seven goals in the game. With three minutes to play, the Swiss team led 23:21, yet the goals from Alissa Werle and Lena Berens helped Germany to draw level before both sides missed chances to snatch a win in the last 30 seconds. 

In the President’s Cup Group III, debutants Chinese Taipei retained their chances to progress to the Placement Matches 17/20 following their second straight win in the tournament, this time over Kazakhstan. The Asian side could rely on a good goalkeeping, as Yu Jun Fu and Jui Chi Lin combined for 14 saves, which allowed their teammates to score 10 goals from counterattacks. Kazakhstan had 31 turnovers throughout the game, and while they trailed by only two goals at the break (10:12), Chinese Taipei were more dominant in the second half, as their top scorer Ching Lin ended the match with eight goals. 

In the same group, Argentina also have two points, as they somewhat struggled in the match against debutants Greenland but in the end won by three goals, 22:19. Greenland were looking for their maiden win at the IHF Youth Women’s World Championship and opened the game with a 3:0 run, and the sides were tied at 8:8 at the interval - interestingly, this score remained intact since the 24th minute. Greenland took a lead again early in the second half, but the South Americans improved their defence and enjoyed a 5:0 run, and they never gave up the initiative afterwards, as their top scorer Helena Molina finished the game with eight goals. 

Stat of the day: 27 - the number of goals scored by Marlene Tucholke in the tournament, as the German team leads the scoring chart with one goal ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Ching Lin and Japan’s Yume Matsumoto. 

What’s next: With one point, Switzerland still have a chance to leapfrog Germany, who are on three points. But to reach the quarter-final, the Swiss not only have to defeat Czechia and rely on Spain beating Germany on Tuesday, but also to overcome a goal difference deficit, as they now have "-4" compared to Germany’s "+10". In the President’s Cup, Chinese Taipei and Argentina will fight for the first position in Group III in a direct duel, as even a draw will be enough for the Asian side to go to the Placement Matches 17/20.