The opening day of the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship ended with four more matches, and in each of them, the difference between the rivals was clear. Home side People's Republic of China claimed a big win, and so did three strong teams from Europe. 

Group D

• People's Republic of China vs Greenland 46:17 (21:7)
• Denmark vs Chinese Taipei 47:13 (26:5)

Group F

• Hungary vs Argentina 31:18 (14:9)
• Norway vs Kazakhstan 43:9 (21:2)

What happened: The People's Rpeublic of China's previous biggest win at the IHF Women’s Youth World Championship dated back to 2016, when they defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 31:23. However, now the hosts delivered an excellent attacking performance against debutants Greenland, winning by as many as 29 goals, 46:17. The Chinese side boasted a 78% shooting efficiency and scored 15 goals from fast breaks, as all their 14 outfield players netted at least once. Greenland conceded 25 turnovers in this very one-sided encounter, but interestingly, it was their player Madeline Bjornestad who became the top scorer of the match with eight goals, almost half of her team's tally. 

In the same Group D, the two-time winners of the Women's Youth World Championship and the runners-up of the 2023 European Women's Youth Championship Denmark won by an even bigger margin against Chinese Taipei, 37:13. All their 14 outfield players put their names on the scoresheet, and goalkeepers Freja Fonseca Nielsen and Zenia Hald Madsen combined for 18 saves, as Denmark scored 20 goals from fast breaks, more than any other team on Wednesday. 

In Group F, Hungary were another European side who was clearly dominant in their opening encounter, taking a commanding win over Argentina. The match was somewhat balanced in the opening 15 minutes, but then the Hungarian side improved their defence and started to pull clear, creating a five-lead at the break and further extending it in the second half, as their goalkeepers Boglarka Lukacs and Greta Majoros combined for 13 saves. 

Norway also opened their account in the same group, beating Kazakhstan by as many as 34 goals. In the opening 30 minutes, the Kazakh side were restricted to just two goals, and while their attack improved as the game progressed, they finished with just a 31% attacking efficiency compared to Norway's 81%. Besides, the European team scored 19 goals from fast breaks, as all their 13 court players netted at least once. 

Stat of the day: with 11 goals from 12 attempts, Denmark's Andrea Jensen became the tournament's top scorer after the opening day, ahead of Germany's Marlene Tucholke and Croatia's Lucija Renic, who are both on nine goals. 

What's next: 16 teams will play eight matches in Groups A, B, C and D on day two of the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, and some of them may secure main round berths with their second wins, while 16 other teams will have a rest day on Thursday.