Six spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are still available and will be awarded to the top two placed teams in the three Olympic Qualification Tournaments, which are due to take place between 11 and 14 April in Torrevieja (Spain), Neu-Ulm (Germany) and Debrecen (Hungary). 

With 12 teams lined up at the start, there is no room for mistake for them and the 18 matches which will unfurl in the next days promise to bring some excellent handball, with the big prize a huge target for all those involved, as the chance of taking part in the Olympic Games comes once every four years.

Hosts aim to seal dream ticket to Paris 2024

Like in the Paris 2024 Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments, the hosts will be Spain, Germany and Hungary and all three will aim to secure the coveted spots, like they did three weeks ago, when their men’s teams progressed to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Surely, hosting such a competition brings the advantage of the home court, with the fans cheering for their team and the players knowing full well the arenas, but the pressure will definitely be high on all of them to deliver the best performances, in a winner-takes-all scenario.

Hungary, which are aiming to secure back-to-back appearances at the Olympic Games, after missing out at London 2012 and Rio 2016, will be favoured in Debrecen, where they take on Sweden, Japan and Great Britain. While the Asian side is surely to create issues for all their opponents, Hungary will hope to use the momentum from the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where they finished 10th, to secure their place between the 12 qualified sides.

Spain have a more daunting task in Torrevieja, an arena which also hosted matches at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship. Facing the Netherlands, Czechia and Argentina is no easy task, especially for a team which changed some players and their coach last year, but “Las Guerreras” will be full of confidence they can make it.

Germany have not qualified to the Olympic Games since Beijing 2008, as a return here would stop a 16-years wait. They are due to face Montenegro, Slovenia and Paraguay, with the three European sides likely to battle for the coveted two tickets to Paris 2024. Germany need to start well against Slovenia if they are to force their way into the final tournament, therefore there is no room for mistake for Markus Gaugisch’s side.

Can Japan apply pressure on Sweden and Hungary?

Japan are one of the non-European sides with the largest growth over the past few years, as the hosting of the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship – where the Asian side finished 10th – boosting the interest and the quality in the team. Now, Japan are looking to secure back-to-back appearances at the Olympic Games, after they ended a 44-year wait at Tokyo 2020.

Since 2019, when Japan took their clearest-ever win against an European side, 37:20 against Romania, the Asian team has always challenged European sides, with a win against Croatia and Austria in 2021, with close losses against Spain (26:28) in 2021, Germany (30:31), Poland (30:32) and Romania (28:32) in 2023.

Yet the biggest win came against Denmark, when Japan delivered an absolutely fantastic performance at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, handing the hosts in Herning one of the biggest losses in history, 26:27, helping Japan to finish 17th, as they doubled down with a win against Serbia.

While Japan definitely were helped by Danish coach Ulrik Kirkely in the build-up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, this time around, they will try to qualify with a Japanese coach at the helm, Kenta Kishimoto, the same coach from Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, where Japan looked like a tough team to beat by European opponents.

Their fast-paced style in attack, enabled by a fantastic centre back in Natsuki Aizawa, and some experience from goalkeeper Sakura Kametani, who has featured throughout her career in the Norwegian and French leagues, help Japan stand out between the non-European sides.

This time around, they will face tough opponents, needing at least one win against Sweden or Hungary to set the dominos in motion and secure their third appearance in history at the Olympic Games, after they finished fifth at Montreal 1976 and 12th at Tokyo 2020, failing to win a match three years ago.

Over the past two decades, Japan have played against Sweden once, at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, when they conceded a 26:34 loss, and three times against Hungary, losing 31:35 in 2007, 28:35 in 2009 and 21:31 in 2015, warning that they are no pushovers.

Will Germany’s patience pay off?

Germany have always been a perennial contender in women’s handball, but at the Olympic Games, their history is scarce, with only four appearances. Germany finished fourth at Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992, sixth at Atlanta 1996 and 11th at Beijing 2008.

Over the past eight editions of the competition, Germany have won only twice and they have missed out at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, trying to return after a 16-year wait, with a big chance, as they now host the Olympic Qualification Tournament #3 in Neu-Ulm.

Since 2018, Germany have relied on youth, growing on a year-by-year basis, as they finished eighth at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, seventh at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship and sixth at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, with a roster averaging 26.1 years old, but with only three players over the age of 30.

Captain Emily Bölk has grown into a true leader, while centre back Alina Grijseels has become one of the best players on her position, as the core of the team is slowly entering its prime. This Olympic Qualification Tournament comes at the perfect time for Germany, which are now poised to return at the Olympic Games for the first time since Beijing 2008.

Can Argentina and Paraguay spring a surprise?

Argentina and Paraguay are the two South American teams present at the Olympic Qualification Tournaments and they will try to respect their underdog status and provide some entertaining moments, as well as improving their chances of qualification.

Paraguay are one of the least experienced teams featuring in the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournaments. The South American team made their debut at France 2007, where they finished 23rd, and went on to finish 21st at Serbia 2013 and Germany 2017, and 29th at Spain 2021 and Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023.

In total, Paraguay have won only nine of the 34 matches played in the world handball flagship competition, never secured a win against an European opponent, and always had a negative goal difference, with lopsided losses against stronger sides.

In their two previous Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament appearances, Argentina travelled to Spain both times in pursuit of the golden ticket – first to Guadalajara for a place at London 2012 and then to Lliria in 2021, for the delayed Tokyo 2020.

They failed to make it both times, as the only time they qualified was at Rio 2016, having always fell behind continental powerhouse Brazil. While losing their matches against European sides in the Olympic Qualification Tournaments by nine goals at least – conceding losses by 15 goals against Spain, 13 against Sweden, 16 against Spain, 10 against Croatia and nine goals against the Netherlands – Argentina are always down for a fight, having a plethora of players featuring in European leagues.