The opening match of the women’s competition at Paris 2024 was an all-European duel. Slovenia, who are making their debut at this level, tried to fight hard against the more experienced Denmark, but the Nordic team had the upper hand, especially in the second half, and started the tournament with a comfortable win, 27:19. 
 
PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES - PRELIMINARY ROUND
GROUP A
Slovenia vs Denmark 19:27 (11:14)
 
Denmark, which won the bronze medal at the 2021 and 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship editions, as well as silver at the EHF EURO 2022, are aiming high again at Paris 2024. And they started the game full of confidence, as some good defence lifted them to a 4:1 lead nine minutes into the match.

For Slovenia women’s team, it was the first ever match at the Olympics, and after a slow start, the Balkan side gradually woke up. Experienced players like Ana Gros and Elizabeth Omoregie led by example, helping the Slovenes to fight back into the game and draw level at 5:5 midway through the first half.

However, Dragan Adzic’s team failed to pull in front even once. The pendulum swung for a while, as the sides were still level at 9:9 in the 21st minute, but then Denmark regained the initiative. Their goalkeeper Althea Reinhardt boasted a 38% saving efficiency before the break, helping her team create a four-goal advantage, 14:10, before Gros slightly cut the deficit.

Denmark’s fast-paced handball helped them to start the second half with three straight goals and increase their advantage to 17:11, forcing Adzic to call for his first timeout of the game. Slovenia continued to fight, yet the Danish team already gained momentum and looked superior.

Slovenia’s goalkeeper Maja Vojnovic did a good job, boasting 13 saves for a 33% save rate, but Reinhardt had the same 13 saves, but a 43% efficiency. The Balkan team were restricted to just two goals between minutes 31 and 48, and as Denmark increased their lead to 20:13, the match was basically settled.

In the last quarter of the game, Slovenia regained some of their attacking power, but it was too late for a strong comeback. The Danes firmly controlled the match, and nine of their players found their names on the scoresheet, with Emma Friis and Trine Ostergaard becoming the top scorers with five goals.

For Slovenia, Gros and Tjasa Stanko also netted five times, actually combining for more than a half of their team’s tally. With just 19 goals scored, a 50% shot efficiency and six two-minute suspensions, it was hard for Adzic’s team to count on a positive result, and Denmark fully deserved their opening victory.