Argentina women’s youth team secured the title in dramatic fashion at the 2025 SCAHC Women's Youth Handball Championship, after a tense final against Brazil, which was decided by a single goal, 23:22.

The two teams, plus the next two in the final standings of the competition, Uruguay and Paraguay, qualified for the 2026 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship.

Nine teams were at the start of the competition, which took place in Asuncion, Paraguay, between 21 and 25 November, and was also played in conjunction with the Continental Phase of the IHF Trophy Women – Youth for the South and Central American Confederation, with Perú, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Venezuela as the participating teams.

The nine participating sides were divided into three groups of three teams each, with the group winner, plus the best second-placed side qualifying for the semi-finals.

In Group A, Brazil beat Costa Rica, 50:11, and Perú, 47:16, to snatch the first place in the standings, with Argentina also securing the first place in Group B, after wins against Venezuela, 37:18, and Guatemala, 47:16. Group C was won by Uruguay, with wins over Paraguay, 35:34, and Chile, 38:26.

The best second-placed side, following the other three teams in the semi-finals, was Paraguay, which had a neutral goal difference, 0, beating Venezuela (-13) and Perú (-17) in the second-placed sides standings.

The semi-finals were close calls, with Argentina taking a 32:25 win over Uruguay and Brazil needing a second-half comeback against Paraguay, turning a 11:14 deficit at the break into a 29:27 win.

With Brazil’s woes on display, Argentina were ready to pounce, but after 30 minutes, the final was going Brazil’s way, 12:9. Boosted by seven goals from Antonella Quiroz and six goals from Lou Martina Genoud, Argentina bounced back in the second half and secured a 23:22 win, to clinch the title.

In the bronze medal match, Uruguay took a 26:23 win against Paraguay, as both sides secured their tickets to the 2026 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship. Paraguay will take part for the first time in 10 years in the competition, while Uruguay are at their fourth appearance in total.

Venezuela were crowned winners of the IHF Trophy Women – Youth for the South and Central American Confederation, finishing sixth in the final standings, with a 27:16 win over Guatemala. They will participate in the Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy Women – Youth.

The top goal scorer of the competition was Guatemala’s Leidy Juarez, with 42 goals, followed by Roxangel Torrelles from Venezuela, with 33 goals and Costa Rica’s Sochil Cortez, with 32 goals.

Credit photo: SCA / Jorge Olmedo