There are only two days before the start of the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, when the top 32 teams in the world will enter the fray with their eyes firmly set on the big prize – the world title – currently held by Norway, who won the gold medal two years ago, at Slovenia 2022.

With 116 matches scheduled in three arenas in Skopje – the Boris Trajkovski Sports Center and the two Jane Sandanski Sport Center arenas – there will surely be a lot of drama, hugely entertaining matches and some surprises sprinkled around the competition, but what are the main things to look out for during the next days, when the competition will be in full fledge?

Can Korea impress once again?

The current generation featuring at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship is the one which has already played in the world handball flagship competition two years ago, also in North Macedonia, in the same three arenas, when the Republic of Korea secured the title at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship.

Of course, progress is different through the different teams and some of the stalwarts who impressed and made it into the All-Star team are not here, making the step towards the senior teams, but nevertheless it will be interesting to see how these side have grown over the past two years and just how big that progress was.

The Republic of Korea have been perennial contenders at this age category and have missed the top-10 only once in 20 appearances, back in 2022, when they ended up on the 19th place. MVP Minseo Kim is missing from the provisional squad, but wings Seojin Kim and Cha Seoyeon are there, with the latter also making the All-Star team two years ago.

Whether the Republic of Korea can replicate the performance from two years ago or not it is still to be seen, yet the Asian side are coming in hot, after dominating their opponents last year in the 2023 Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship, where they ran out with the title, in superb fashion, with a commanding 34:15 win against the People’s Republic of China in the final.

This time around, things do not look to be easier for Korea, which are facing Hungary in a fiery clash in the preliminary round, but the Asian side will be definitely favoured against Argentina and Mexico, as they aim to come back into the top-10.

No debut, but long-awaited comebacks

There are no teams making their debut in the competition this time around, but it will be fascinating to see how sides making their return after a long absence will cope with the pressure of such a competition.

Algeria will make their comeback at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship for the first time since 2008, ending a 16-year hiatus. Coincidentally, their last two appearances in the competition have also come in editions hosted by North Macedonia, in 2003 and in 2008. The African side made it through to the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship after ending on the fifth place at the 2023 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship, where they lost two matches in the preliminary round, 19:32 against Egypt and 19:32 against Tunisia.

The Chinese Taipei, fourth place at the 2023 AHF Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship, are also returning after a 16-year hiatus, after finishing 16th back then, in a competition also hosted by North Macedonia. Hosts North Macedonia also break a 16-year wait, having finished 18th in 2008, when they were also hosts, aiming to surely improve that rank, which can be done by securing a place in the main round.

On the other hand, Serbia, which replaced New Zealand, will return for the first time since 2014, while Uzbekistan, the winner of the 2024 IHF Inter-Continental Trophy, by beating Great Britain, 33:23, are also making their first appearance since 2016.

A new winner or the usual suspects?

Of course, each of the 32 teams that start the competition has an objective. For many, this will be the big title, the trophy, which has been won so far by 10 teams, with the Soviet Union clinching the world champion title seven times, followed by Russia, with four times, Denmark, Norway and Romania (two titles each), while Hungary, Yugoslavia, Germany and Sweden each won once.

Which are the favourites now, at North Macedonia 2024? While the Republic of Korea have been already identified, they will be challenged by several teams, including Hungary, Denmark, with France, Sweden or Romania also being able to inflict some damage.

Denmark and Hungary have been the most consistent teams in this generation. The Scandinavian side has finished second at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship and also secured the silver medal at the W19 EHF EURO 2023, but will be missing a key player in Julie Scaglione, their top scorer, who has already made her debut in the senior team.

On the other hand, Hungary have finished third, securing the bronze, at North Macedonia 2022, and won the gold medal at the W19 EHF EURO 2023, but will miss the MVP of the W19 EHF EURO 2023, Petra Simon. Nevertheless, they have proven a fantastic form, taking two wins in the friendly matches before the start of the competition, 36:21 against the Netherlands and 32:21 against Egypt.

Romania (third at the W19 EHF EURO 2023), Portugal (fourth at the continental competition) or even reigning champions Norway, can be dark horses in the competition, but much will be revealed after the first two matchdays, which will take place on 19, 20 and 21 June in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Who's going to shine this time?

The IHF Women’s Junior World Championship is a hotbed for the next generations to make themselves known and in the past decades it was crystal clear that the potential underlined here was confirmed in the future. Take, for example, the 2018 edition, when Henny Reistad, the current IHF World Female Player of the Year, was the All-Star centre back, while Emma Friis was the All-Star left wing.

Althea Reinhard was the All-Star goalkeeper in 2016, while Anna Vyakhireva and Daria Dmitrieva were also selected in the All-Star team in 2014, with Xenia Smits, Veronika Mala or Vyakhireva also making the top-10 in the top goal scorer standings.

There are already plenty of players who can deliver on the big stage here, with others who have already made their debuts in their senior teams or in the EHF Champions League Women at club level, therefore it will be interesting to see how they developed over the last two years and who can shine.