The women’s handball competition at the 2025 Junior Pan-American Games took place between 10 and 15 August, with eight teams at the start. Brazil were crowned champions for the first time, after defeating reigning champions Argentina in the final played in Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion.

The eight participating sides – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, the United States of America and Uruguay – were divided into two groups of four teams each for the preliminary round, with the top two sides progressing to the semi-finals.

The two big favourites for the title – the reigning champions, Argentina, and Brazil – were drawn in the same group, where Brazil secured the first place, winning three matches out of three, with a 43:15 win over Mexico, a 39:12 win over Cuba and a hard-fought 21:18 win over Argentina.

Argentina finished seconds, as they won against Mexico, 32:14, and against Cuba, 47:20, securing their place in the semi-finals and extending their dreams of retaining the title won in 2021. Mexico finished third, with two points, after their 34:27 win against Cuba.

Hosts Paraguay swept their opponents in the other group, winning against Uruguay, 23:11, Chile, 29:28 and the United States of America, 19:12, setting up a crunch clash against Argentina in the semi-finals, where Marizza Faria’s team were underdogs.

Uruguay made it to the semi-finals beating Chile, 29:22 and USA, 20:16, while Chile ended up on the third place, courtesy of their 31:26 win against the American team.

For the first semi-final, there was not a question about the winning team, with Brazil taking a clear 27:9 win over Uruguay, after leading 15:4 at the break. But the second semi-final was more competitive, and Paraguay and Argentina were deadlocked at the break, 9:9.

Eventually, a stronger bench and a bigger depth, plus eight goals from Helena Molina and six from Mora Carballo, lifted Argentina to a 23:17 win, earning a showdown with Brazil in the last act.

It was a tale of two halves in the match for the gold medal, with Brazil jumping to a convincing 15:8 lead at the break, with nothing seeming to deter them from winning the title.

But Argentina attempted a comeback, with six goals from Mora Carballo, which made the game more balanced, yet Brazil eventually emerged as winners, with a 22:19 win, as Raquel Ladeia scored seven goals and Lorena Loyane added four more.

In the bronze medal match, hosts Paraguay secured the bronze medal in the women’s handball competition at the 2025 Junior Pan-American Games, with a 20:18 win after extra-time against Uruguay, after the two sides were deadlocked after 60 minutes, 16:16.

Mexico’s Yuridia Arenas was the top goal scorer of the competition, with 42 goals, followed by Brazil’s Raquel Ladeia, with 38 goals and Uruguay’s Martina Campos, with 34 goals.

Final standings

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Paraguay
4. Uruguay, 5. Chile, 6. United States of America, 7. Cuba, 8. Mexico

Credit photo: Bruno Ruas / RuasMidia/ CBHb