The first games of the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships main round and consolation round threw-off on Thursday on Pingtan Island, China.

In the main round, teams play three games each, one on Thursday and two on Friday (21 June), split into a morning session and an afternoon/evening session. The top four teams in each of the two main round groups in both competitions then qualify directly through to the quarter-finals.

The consolation round featuring the bottom teams in each of the four men’s and four women’s preliminary groups also commences.

Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and Denmark into women’s last eight

Portugal became the first women’s team to make it through to the quarter-finals, defeating Croatia 7:6 via shoot-out (16:10, 12:20, SO 7:6) and they were swiftly joined by Argentina who impressed once again, against hosts China, winning 2-0 (29:8, 29:8).

Also joining them were Brazil, who were made to sweat against Norway. After losing the first set 18:20, the South Americans fought back, winning the second 23:20 to take it to a shoot-out, won by Brazil after Norway saw a number of their shots saved.

Arguably the best was saved until the very end when Netherlands and Germany met in a repeat of the 2023 European Championship final, which was won by the Germans.

Alexander Novakovic’s Germany side went into the game having seen their unbeaten world championship run end on Wednesday and they found themselves down again after losing the first set 16:18. But a strong second set performance led by Nele Kurzke in goal saw Germany take the second (20:18) and set up a shoot-out, won with a single-pointer from Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar as she shot home her side’s fifth shot with the score at 4:4.

“That was just a showcase of what we can do and what we're able to when we just believe in us and believe in the ability and the capacity that every player for us has,” said Kretzschmar after the game.

“We will take this feeling and take this moment because this group is really tough and tomorrow there will be Norway and Denmark. We know them quite well. We will see what the day brings because every game is really important for reaching the best spot in the quarter-finals.”

As the team were celebrating their win on the sand, they held up a personalised shirt with the phrase ‘Wir fur Hendrik’ (‘We’re for Hendrik’) written on it, in reference to their assistant coach, Hendrik Sander, who had to return to Germany for personal reasons.

“Now, it's even more important than ever that we stay together as a team, because Hendrik is a big, big and huge important part of the team,” explained Kretzschmar.

“Now we have to stand even more close together and just fight for him because he can't be here anymore. We want to achieve the best result now for him – and for everybody that's injured now because we had a quite hard preparation. It will not be easy for us but we will fight even more and be closer together now.”

In the other games, Spain beat Philippines 2-0 (22:10, 21:16) and Denmark confirmed their quarter-final spot with a 2-0 (23:18, 25:16) win over 2018 world champions Greece. 

In the consolation round, the USA won their first set and game at China 2024, defeating Oceania champions Australia 2-1 (18:17, 18:21, SO 6:4) with Greece 2022 top-scorer Christine Mansour impressing in the shoot-out goal, saving three Australian shots.

“This was a much-needed win for us, for our morale,” said Mansour after the match. “To get our first win after three difficult games in a difficult pool is a huge thing.”

Puerto Rico women are still waiting for first-ever win at their debut IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship after losing to Asian champions 0-2 (12:18, 22:30).

Men’s quarter-finals await for Brazil, Hungary, Germany and Croatia

Four teams made it through to the last eight with a perfect record of four wins from their four games at China 2024. Title-holders Croatia defeated Qatar in a repeat of The World Games 2022 final, as the European side continued their impressive run, defeating the Asian champions in a tight encounter 2-0 (20:18, 20:19).

European champions Hungary also joined them in the knock-out stages, defeating African champions Tunisia 2-0 (26:12, 20:18), while Germany and Brazil ensured their safe passage with wins over Argentina and Oman respectively. The strong Brazilian defence were on top form, restricting the Asian side to just four points in the second set.

In the other games, Denmark beat Spain 2-0 (25:16, 23:22) and Portugal saw off the USA 2-0 (23:18, 23:17).

In the opening game of the consolation round, host nation took Uruguay to a shoot-out after winning the first, but lost (20:23, 26:18, SO 5:4), while Australia won their first of China 2024 and subsequently got off the mark, defeating Puerto Rico 2-0 (20:16, 24:20)

Results – Thursday 20 June 2024

Men’s Competition

Consolation Round
CHN vs URU 1-2 (23:20, 18:26, SO 4:5)
AUS vs PUR 2-0 (20:16, 24:20)

Main Round
DEN vs ESP 2-0 (25:16, 23:22)
HUN vs TUN 2-0 (26:12, 20:18)
OMA vs BRA 0-2 (14:20, 4:20)
CRO vs QAT 2-0 (20:18, 20:19)
POR vs USA 2-0 (23:18, 23:17)
ARG vs GER 0-2 (14:21, 12:18)

Women’s Competition

Consolation Round
VIE vs PUR 2-0 (18:12, 30:22)
AUS vs USA 1-2 (17:18, 21:18, SO 4:6)

Main Round
POR vs CRO 2-1 (16:10, 12:20, SO 7:6)
PHI vs ESP 0-2 (10:22, 16:21)
CHN vs ARG 0-2 (8:29, 8:29)
NOR vs BRA 1-2 (20:18, 20:23, SO 6:7)
DEN vs GRE 2-0 (23:18, 25:16)
NED vs GER 1-2 (18:16, 18:20, SO 4:5)