The Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy threw off with four high-octane matches in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, as the matches scheduled for the youth (U17) and junior (U19) competitions provided some entertaining twists and turns, with fantastic comebacks and high-scoring, dramatic scenarios.

In the junior (U19) competition, hosts Bulgaria threw off with a high-scoring win over Colombia, 37:31, taking early control of the match and providing an excellent attacking performance, with a 66% shooting efficiency.

After Colombia started with a strong salvo, with two goals from their top scorer, Sara Arroyave Calderon, Bulgaria bounced back and used a 5:1 run to take control of the match and never looked back, opening a 6:3 lead.

Both Melina Spasova and Ivayla Dimitrova scored in double digits, finishing the match with 13 and 11 goals respectively, as Bulgaria had a 20:13 lead at the break. Colombia did try to mount a comeback, as Arroyave finished with 12 goals herself, but Bulgaria were too strong and secured a 37:31 winning start, as their aim to win the competition and qualify for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship is still alive.

 

Canada also emerged winners in their opener against Uzbekistan, in another high-scoring match, as this generation of Canada players, which have already featured at the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, proved their experience.

Mahely Lemaire was unstoppable in this match, scoring 16 goals, with Canada controlling the match from start to finish, as they had three 4:0 unanswered runs in the first half, to boast a 22:14 lead at the break.

Goalkeeper Alice Florescu managed to save 14 shots for a 31% saving efficiency, and Canada had a 72% shooting efficiency, managing their attack throughout the whole of the second half, to clinch a 39:31 and provisionally secure the first place in the group.

The competition continues on Wednesday, when Canada face Colombia and Uzbekistan meet Guinea.

In the youth (U17) competition, the balanced nature of the teams provided even more excitement and drama, as both matches scheduled for the opening day finished in a draw, with four teams tied on one point in the standings.

There was plenty of drama in the match between Venezuela and Canada, with one of the most exciting comebacks seen at this level in the history of the competition.

Venezuela took early control of the match, and a 7:0 unanswered run in the first half saw them take a commanding 16:7 lead after 24 minutes. The gap grew even bigger and by the 38th minute, the maximum lead was registered, as Venezuela had a 12-goal lead, 26:14.

Slowly, but surely, Canada started to mount a comeback, first starting with a six-goal unanswered run, 6:0, to cut the lead to only six goals, 26:20, after 44 minutes. Two other 3:0 unanswered runs were split by a goal from Venezuela, as Canada closed to only two goals, 26:28.

Another 4:0 run from Canada saw them take the lead, 30:29, with Olivia Pelletier scoring seven goals, but Venezuela tied the score, only for Canada to score a goal, which was not awarded due to the final whistle being heard just a fraction of the second before the ball entered the net.

The 30:30 draw was followed by another one, 33:33, between Bulgaria and Guinea, after another match full of twists and turns.

Bulgaria’s Martina Todorova (11 goals) and Ivet Kostadinova (eight goals) combined for 19 goals, and Bulgaria led throughout the first half by as many as five goals, 12:7, before Guinea bounced back and took the lead at the break, 17:15.

Naby Soumah (seven goals), Mabinly Camara (six goals), N’nady Sylla (six goals) each starred for Guinea, but Bulgaria kept close, cancelling a four-goal deficit, 23:27, with 14 minutes to go. Bulgaria then took the lead, 33:31, with three minutes to go, but Soumah and Sylla scored the decisive goals, in order to see Guinea snatch a point, 33:33.

The youth Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy will continue on Wednesday, with the matches between Uzbekistan and Canada, as well as the battle between Bulgaria and Venezuela.

All the matches of the Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy can we watched on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel free of charge.

Photo credit: Bulgarian Handball Federation