March is a pivotal month in the world of handball, with plenty of crucial matches to be played, especially in the three Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments, which are due to be scheduled in Granollers, Spain, in Hanover, Germany and in Tatabanya, Hungary.

With six teams already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, six more spots are available and will be awarded to the top two teams in each of the three Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments, with tough battles expected on the court in each of the three venues.

Spain, one of the most consistent teams in the past years, will aim to erase their bad outing at the EHF EURO 2024 and secure a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, by finishing on one of the top two places in Granollers, where they are due to face Slovenia, Brazil and Bahrain.

Fresh from hosting the EHF EURO 2024, Germany will aim to translate that good form in the Olympic Qualification Tournament they host in Hanover, where they are due to face Croatia, Algeria and Austria, with three European sides and one African side vying for the two spots.

In the third Olympic Qualification Tournament, which looks the most balanced, hosts Hungary will face Portugal, Norway and Tunisia, in what projects to deliver plenty of drama, with twists and turns at every step of the way.

Handball does not stop with the Olympic Qualification Tournaments and the three days in March will see the conclusion of the Women's IHF Trophy InterContinental Phase, with six teams playing in each of the age groups of the competition, Under-18 and Under-20.

Another interesting competition will take place in Africa, with the 2023 African Games taking place in Accra, Ghana. Handball will be represented, with 10 teams in both the men’s and the women’s competitions challenging for the trophy between 13 and 23 March.

Powerhouses like Egypt and Angola, who are the reigning continental champions in the men’s and women’s competitions respectively will take the court, but are due to face a sturdy challenge from their opponents.

There are more friendly matches scheduled for the men’s Under-20 teams, with an international friendly competition – TIBY – played in Serris – Val d’Europe, with France, Denmark, Slovenia and Hungary facing off.

In beach handball, an international friendly competition will take place between 10 and 13 March in Tunisia, where the hosts are due to face Denmark and France, in preparation for the 2024 IHF Beach Handball World Championship, held in June in the People’s Republic of China.

At club level, the EHF Champions League Men will hold its last round of the group phase, with three teams already progressing to the quarter-finals – THW Kiel, Aalborg Handball and Barcelona. One more spot is available for the play-offs, due to be awarded to either Orlen Wisla Plock or FC Porto, which will meet in a head-to-head match in the last round on 7 March.