For the second time in a row and for the third time in the last four editions, Argentina clinched the gold medal in the men’s competition at the Pan American Games, subsequently qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as the winner of the 2023 Pan American Games were assured a ticket to the competition.

Eight teams lined up at the start of the competition, with two big favourites – Brazil and Argentina – aiming for the coveted title, and the hugely important Paris 2024 ticket, as the second-placed team was going to head to the Olympic Qualification Tournaments next March.

The eight sides were divided into two groups of four teams, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the semi-finals, which made for entertaining watching, despite Argentina and Brazil sweeping their way into the knockout phase of the competition held between 30 October and 4 November in Viña del Mar, Chile.

In Group A, Brazil had small issues only against Chile, in the last match, where they sealed a 30:28 win, thanks to six goals each from left back Haniel Langaro and left wing Jean Pierre Dupoux, while sealing clear wins against Mexico (51:19) and the Dominican Republic (36:20).

The second place went to Chile, which dominated the Dominican Republic (30:21) and Mexico (32:21), as their experienced core of Rodrigo Salinas, and brothers Emil and Erwin Feuchtmann dominating their opponents.

In Group B, Argentina and the United States of America were the two teams progressing to the semi-finals, with Argentina dominating all the three sides, taking a 28:14 win against USA to throw off the competition, a 37:16 win against Uruguay and a 28:20 win against Cuba, the reigning champions of the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship.

There was no drama in the semi-finals, with the two favourites clinching their place in the final, as Argentina rode an eight-goal performance from Federico Pizarro, to clinch a 33:26 win over Chile, while Brazil dominated the USA, 40:27.

While plenty were expecting a close match between Argentina and Brazil in the final, the former side dominated the proceedings, starting well and finishing off in style, despite Brazil taking the lead in the first 20 minutes and boasting a two-goal lead.

A 8:4 run to end the first half saw Argentina take the lead at the break, 16:14, with Nicolas Bono starting to dominate, finishing the match with six goals. The pivotal moment of the match came in the middle of the second half, when Argentina rode a 4:0 run to deliver an outstanding performance and create a six-goal lead, which proved to be unassailable.

Argentina secured a 32:25 win and tied the record for the number of wins in the Pan American Games, three, previously set by Cuba and Brazil, while Chile sealed a dramatic bronze medal, with a 28:27 win over USA.

Argentina became the fourth side to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, after hosts France, world champions Denmark, plus Japan. This will be the fourth consecutive appearance for the South American side in the competition, after they finished 10th at London 2012 and Rio 2016 and 12th at Tokyo 2020.

Brazil will now head to the Olympic Qualification Tournaments next March, as they try to return to the Olympic Games for the third time in a row.

Photo credit: German Paez / SCAHC