With Christmas songs being played on the sound system inside the DNB Arena in Stavanger, Norway’s handball fans were given an early present as they saw the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship debuts of Katrine Lunde and Nora Mork.

Their 10-goal (33:23) victory over Republic of Korea was set up early by the team, who meant business, with coach Thorir Hergeirsson also starting with Camilla Herrem and Stine Oftedal, despite having qualified for the main round two days ago.

Group C
Norway vs Republic of Korea 33:23 (20:11)

In her 344th appearance, goalkeeper Lunde – who has claimed 10 golds with Norway in her career so far – impressed as expected, ending with 11 saves before withdrawn from the action with 10 minutes remaining, while Mork did not get on the scoresheet, but assisted six times.

Vilde Ingstad, who missed Austria due to illness last time out came back in to the squad while Kari Brattset Dale sat out due to an ankle injury.

There were glimpses of Korea’s majesty – their superb in-flights earning praise from all four corners of the Norway-biased arena including a double set-up, scored by Ryu Eun Hee after being assisted by Eunjoo Shin who had been fed by Bitna Woo.

Ultimately, the match was decided in a spell where a switch to 7v6 for Korea led to a flurry of goals from Norway, like the snow outside the arena.

After a slow start which saw just one Norwegian goal in the first five minutes, the Asian champions eventually found themselves 5:3 down (13th minute) but the breakdown of their attacks led to a 6:0 scoring run from the European champions, ending with a trio of strikes from Ingvild Bakkerud to make it 11:3 (17th minute) and effectively put the game to bed.

Nine goals was the difference at the half-time break (20:11), but Korea took it to the Norwegians for the next 20 minutes, outscoring them 11:7 to bring the game within five (27:22), but this was the end of their gas and a 6:1 run from Norway sealed the deal.

And in the perfect ending, local club player – for Sola HK – Camilla Herrem was voted in as the best player in the 60 minutes, top-scoring for her side on seven goals.

hummel Player of the Match: Camilla Herrem (Norway)