Brazil’s men and women and Croatia’s men have started the first day of the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour: Finals strongly, recording two wins out of their two games each at the season-ending event in Qatar.

Stage 3 of the tour – the final stage – is being played at the Al-Gharafa Beach Venue in Doha across two days (6 to 7 November) and features four men’s and four women’s national teams from six countries playing a total of 16 games (eight each in the men’s and women’s competitions).

Much-changed Brazilian women impress on opening day

Brazil coach Vinicius Carlos de Oliveira is overseeing a team with just three players (Ingrid Frazao, Beatriz Cruz and Mariane Hanthequeste) remaining from their lowest-ever ranking at an IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship, when they finished eighth in China last June.

And it was Hanthequeste who led the way in their opening of her sides’ title defence on Wednesday, as she delivered 12 points to top-score for the South Americans in a 2-0 (14:12, 20:18) victory over the tough Spanish side, who, as always, were led by the effervescent Maria Asuncion Batista Portero (14 points).

The experienced Cruz, top-scorer at China 2024, then led the way in the evening clash for Brazil as they saw off world champions Germany (13:12, 21:20), themselves much changed from the world championship, due to injury and player commitments. The first set had been 12:12 with well over two minutes remaining, but a single-pointer from Camila Queiroga with just over 10 seconds remaining put her side on the path to victory as Ingrid Frazao made the crucial save from Germany after the restart.

Alexander Novakovic’s Germany team had impressed in their opening game, demolishing Portugal 2-0 (19:8, 20:12) in a showcase from Isabel Kattner, which saw the China 2024 All-star Team pivot score an incredible 22 points.

The day did not get any better for Portugal, who lost their second match, against neighbours Spain. A tight first set, which saw Spain score the winning point with nine seconds left and Portugal unable to get the following attack organised. It was followed by a clear second period as 13 points from Spain’s Malena Diaz Coppens ensured a 2-0 (19:18, 16:9) victory.

World champions Croatia show intent on day one in men’s competition

The all-European clash between Croatia and Germany opened the men’s competition in superb style, the two teams going toe-to-toe in a heavyweight clash which went to a shoot-out.

Croatia, who took the 2024 world championship title against Denmark last June, won the first set (20:18) but fell to the Germans in the second (21:26). However, the Germans could not make their shots count in the shoot-out, missing two – after Valentino Valentakovic had seen Croatia’s first attempt saved – to hand the Croatians a first win of the day. Captain Ivan Juric, alongside youngster Vigo Konforta, scored 18 points each for Croatia.

Konforta then top-scored again for his side in the closing game of the opening day in Doha, against the hosts and title-holders Qatar. Konforta’s 18 points in a 2-0 (18:16, 20:18) late evening win handed the Asian side their second loss of the day after Brazil had seen them off 2-0 (20:16, 23:16) in the afternoon session, with Nailson Amaral and Aldrin Andrade scoring 14 points a piece for the South American side, who are playing in Qatar without a number of iconic players, including Gil Pires and Bruno Carlos de Oliveira.

The Brazilians ensured their second win of the day with a 9:8 shoot-out win over Germany (25:20, 16:17), with Lennart Wormann missing the crucial shot for the Germans.

“All in all, it was a perfect first day,” said Croatia coach Mladen Paradzik to ihf.info. “We are using this opportunity to give a chance to some of our younger players who are seriously knocking on the door of the senior team, so, from that perspective I am even more happy after this first day because those guys started their journey at the top level with two wins and, best of all, they fully contributed to the results.

“Games against Germany and Qatar are always very equal and we could have quite easily lost both,” he added.

“The games were tight and our youngsters – Vigo Konforta, Ivan Rukljac – did not lose their heads. It is always great to win games and it is also a great thing for the mentality of those young players that have the opportunity to feel our atmosphere for the first time. Again, we have shown the quality and strong mentality to win both games and secure the final spot for tomorrow."

“It was a great atmosphere today, combined with great organisation from the Qatar Handball Association and the IHF, plus top-quality teams. It was a perfect day and we are really happy to be in Doha.”

2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – Stage 4: Finals
Date: 6 – 7 November
Location: Doha, Qatar
Men's teams: Brazil (BRA), Croatia (CRO), Germany (GER), Qatar (QAT)
Women's teams: Brazil, Germany, Portugal (POR), Spain (ESP)

Match Results

Wednesday 6 November

Men’s Competition
CRO vs GER 2-1 (20:18, 21:26, SO 7:6)
BRA vs QAT 2-0 (20:16, 23:16)
GER vs BRA 1-2 (20:25, 17:16, SO 8:9)
QAT vs CRO 0-2 (16:18, 18:20)

Women’s Competition
ESP vs BRA 0-2 (12:14, 18:20)
GER vs POR 2-0 (19:8, 20:12)
POR vs ESP 0-2 (18:19, 9:16)
BRA vs GER 2-0 (13:12, 21:20)

Match Schedule

Thursday 7 November

Men’s Competition
1600     QAT vs GER
1645     BRA vs CRO
1945     3/4 Placement/Bronze-Medal Match
2115     Final/Gold-Medal Match

Women’s Competition
1430     BRA vs POR
1515     ESP vs GER
1900     3/4 Placement/Bronze-Medal Match
2030     Final/Gold-Medal Match

*All times local (Qatar) / Competition Management has the right to change the order and the time of the matches.

About the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour

The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was launched at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece and debuted in Gdansk, Poland with Croatia winning the men’s tournament and Spain taking the top spot in the women’s tournament.

The 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour visited Brazil, Tunisia and Poland before the Finals Stage was held in Doha, Qatar in November, with Qatar’s men and Brazil’s women taking the overall titles.

The 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour commenced in May with Stage 1 in Maricá, Brazil. The host nation won both the men’s and women’s competitions. Stage 2 took place in Cádiz, Spain, with the host nation winning the women’s tournament and the men’s tournament won by Germany.