For the first time in history, Japan became continental champions at the AHF Asian Women’s Junior Handball Championship, one year removed after this generation secured the first title for the country at the AHF Asian Women’s Youth Handball Championship.

Japan had previously finished as runners-up in the competition five times, most recently in 2019, and secured the bronze medal six times, but have never dethroned the Republic of Korea, which have won 16 out of the previous 17 titles, with the only loss coming in 2022, when neither Japan, nor Korea took part and India took the plaudits.

10 teams lined up at the start of the 2025 AHF Asian Women’s Junior Handball Championship, which took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, between 20 and 29 August 2025, with the top four sides in the final standings – Japan, the Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Taipei qualifying for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

The preliminary round saw the teams divided into two groups of five teams each, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the semi-finals. In Group A, the top two teams were the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Taipei, with China exerting their dominance even from the first day, when they beat Taipei, 27:14.

In Group B, the heavy hitters Japan and the Republic of Korea dominated their opponents in style, winning all matches before their mutual battle, in the last day of this phase of the competition.

Japan had a better goal difference, after winning against Kazakhstan (41:14), Kyrgyzstan (95:8) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (30:18), while Korea needed to win against Japan to secure the first place in the group by beating Kyrgyzstan (69:5), Kazakhstan (40:17) and Iran (39:19).

In the battle against their archrivals, Korea came back from 9:11 at the break to clinch a 23:21 win and seal the first place, as Ayoung Seo scored seven goals and Bokyeong Kim added five more goals.

However, Japan bounced back in style in the first semi-final, taking a 26:19 win against the People’s Republic of China and qualifying for their sixth final in history, while the Republic of Korea did what was expected of them and set up a crunch clash with Japan for the title, after a 31:17 win over the Chinese Taipei.

A 3:0 run to end the first half from Japan, with two goals from Mami Nakamura, saw them take a 11:10 lead at the break in the final, and despite Korea trying their mightiest, the most decorated team in the history of the AHF Asian Women’s Junior Handball Championship never took back the lead.

Japan led by as many as five goals, 19:14, with five minutes to go, as their goalkeeper, Hana Osaki, had 13 saves for a magnific 43.3% saving efficiency. Korea did embark on a 3:0 run, but the nine goals from Nakamura were too much, with Japan winning their maiden title, with a 20:18 win.

In the bronze medal match, the People’s Republic of China secured their 14th medal in 17 editions, taking a 22:17 win against the Chinese Taipei.

Japan, the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Taipei are the four qualified teams for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

2025 AHF Asian Women’s Junior Handball Championship – final standings

1. Japan
2. Republic of Korea
3. People’s Republic of China
4. Chinese Taipei
5. India
6. Islamic Republic of Iran
7. Kazakhstan
8. Hong Kong-China
9. Kyrgyzstan
10. Uzbekistan

Photo credit: Uzbekistan Handball