Four of the 32 participating teams at the 2023 IHF Men's Junior World Championship faced off in a friendly tournament, the Scandinavian Open Championship, which took place in Hjørring, Denmark, between 13 and 15 June.

Three Scandinavian sides – hosts Denmark, Norway and Sweden – and Portugal participated in the friendly competition, testing their level before the world handball flagship competition, which starts on 20 June in five venues over Germany and Greece.

With a strong outing from centre back Thomas Sommer Arnoldsen, the All-Star centre back at the M20 EHF EURO 2022, who was their top scorer in the Scandinavian Open Championship, Denmark secured three wins in three games, totally outplaying their opponents.

In the tournament's first game, the hosts delivered an excellent performance against Norway, taking a 39:29 win, doubling down on the win with another great result against Sweden, a 32:26 win.

Last but not least, with a seven-goal performance from Arnoldsen, who will feature for Aalborg Håndbold from the next season and has already made his debut in Denmark's senior national team, the Scandinavian side secured the first place in the friendly competition, with a 27:19 win over Portugal.

Sweden came in second place, with two wins, 39:32 against Portugal, and 30:28 against Norway, while the third place was sealed by Portugal, thanks to their 33:29 win over Norway, which finished on the fourth place.

Sweden's back Kasper Palmar was the second-best scorer in the competition, with 18 goals, 11 of which came in the win against Portugal.

The 2023 IHF Men's Junior World Championship will start on 20 June in Germany and Greece.

Portugal will face Brazil, Kuwait and Costa Rica in the preliminary round in Group C, Denmark and Norway have been drawn in Group E in Athens, alongside Hungary and Argentina, while Sweden also play in Athens in Group F, facing Slovenia, Bahrain and Greenland.

Photo: Villy Nielsen