Guatemala won both competitions at the Central American Zone women's youth and junior tournaments of the IHF Trophy South and Central America, which took place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras from 20 to 24 May 2025.

Six teams lined up at the start of both competitions – with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama vying for the two trophies and for the qualification berth for the Continental Phase of the IHF Trophy South and Central America.

In the junior’s competition, which was played in a round-robin format, Guatemala swept their opponents in emphatic fashion, scoring 190 goals and conceding only 60 in the five matches played.

The start was flawless, with Guatemala taking a 36:13 win over hosts Honduras, following it up with a clear 38:9 win over Nicaragua and a 35:17 win over El Salvador, becoming clear favourites to win the title.

In the last two matches, Guatemala took a 26:11 win over Costa Rica and a 55:10 win over Panama, to seal the trophy, being head and shoulders above their competition.

The second place was clinched by El Salvador, with seven points, as they eventually clinched a 26:21 win over Costa Rica in the last round of the competition, with Costa Rica finishing third, on six points.

Hosts Honduras ended up on the fourth position, with four points, followed up by Nicaragua, with three points, and Panama, which conceded five losses in five matches and ended sixth, with zero points.

Guatemala also won the youth competition in the IHF Trophy South and Central America – Central American Zone, but the battle was fierce, as they finished up tied on points with Costa Rica.

It was a well-balanced competition, also played in a round-robin format, as both Guatemala and Costa Rica conceded a loss, but Guatemala secured the title due to winning their head-to-head match.

In the first day, Guatemala took a 42:17 win over Panama, while Costa Rica pushed to a 28:22 win over El Salvador, as Nicaragua and Honduras drew, 27:27.

The second day saw Guatemala march towards a 34:19 win over El Salvador, while Costa Rica took a 26:22 win over Honduras.

But in the third day, Costa Rica took the lead of the competition, after they secured a 38:14 win over Panama and Guatemala surprisingly conceded a 25:27 loss against Nicaragua, with everything riding on the result in the last day of the competition, after Costa Rica beat Nicaragua, 26:24 and Guatemala defeated hosts Honduras, 26:13.

Eventually, in a scrappy match, Guatemala took the title, with a 17:16 win over Costa Rica, securing the crucial win – the only result which would have seen them finish first. Nicaragua finished third, with seven points, only one point behind the top two sides.

IHF Trophy South and Central America – Central American Zone – Junior competition

1. Guatemala
2. El Salvador
3. Costa Rica
4. Honduras
5. Nicaragua
6. Panama

IHF Trophy South and Central America – Central American Zone – Youth competition

1. Guatemala
2. Costa Rica
3. Nicaragua
4. Honduras
5. El Salvador
6. Panama

Credit photo: Federacion Hondureña De Balonmano