With two days to go before the start of the 2026 IHF Women's Youth World Championship in Romania, the 32 participating teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparations as the countdown to the competition begins in earnest.

Ambitions are high and every athlete on the roster has one eye on the podium - but more than that, on what this stage can mean for their future. The IHF Women's Youth World Championship has long served as a launchpad for the game's greatest careers, and the history books offer plenty of inspiration for those stepping onto the court in the four venues in Romania.

The competition has been a stage for some of the finest players of their generation to announce themselves to the world. Anna Vyakhireva, one of the most gifted players of the modern era, was the MVP of the 2012 edition, while Lois Abbingh, the top scorer of the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, was also the top scorer in the 2010 edition of the youth competition.

But who are the names that can write history in this competition?

Martina Knežević (Montenegro)

Knežević is one of the top players in this generation in Europe, and was a key ingredient for Montenegro’s challenge at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, when they secured the bronze medal.

The 17-year-old back was named as the MVP of the competition and her potential was clear also at the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship in the People’s Republic of China, where Knežević was part of Montenegro’s roster.

There, she played 159 minutes throughout eight matches and scored 19 goals from 27 shots, also dishing 14 assists for her teammates. The responsibility will be even bigger in the Under-18 team, with big expectations for Montenegro, which are chasing their first semi-final spot since 2014.

Antea Jerković (Croatia)

Croatia finished second at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, their best-ever performance in the competition, with a strong display, on both sides of the ball. This Croatia generation looks very strong and while several players contributed, the only one selected in the All-Star team was centre back Antea Jerković.

Jerković was her team’s top scorer in four of the eight matches played, including the quarter-finals and the final, finishing the competition with 54 goals, as the eighth best scorer.

Croatia will need her and fellow back Anamarija Barić in top form, as they try to secure their best finish in the competition, currently being the seventh place at China 2024.

Lauryn Mierzwa (Switzerland)

Switzerland have constantly produced excellent young talent over the last years and left wing Era Baumann lit up the scoreboard at China 2024, when the previous generation of Switzerland finished 14th.

Another left wing is trying to take over now and Lauryn Mierzwa has the credentials to provide another great performance in the competition.

Mierzwa was named the All-Star left wing at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, scoring 54 goals, the eighth largest number, and she will be relied upon in this competition too, at Romania 2026, when Switzerland face a tough group, with Serbia, Slovenia and Algeria in Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Hina Miura (Japan)

Japan lost the final at the 2025 AHF Asian Women’s Youth Handball Championship against the People’s Republic of China, but their path towards the gold medal match was spectacular, winning four out of four until that point, including a 29:25 win against the Republic of Korea.

One of their top performers was back Hina Miura, who scored 27 goals in the five matches of the competition and was named as the All-Star left back.

Miura has also impressed at the Carpathian Trophy, where Japan won against Tunisia and lost against Egypt and Romania, being the joint top scorer, with 18 goals, therefore being a focal point for Japan’s attack.

Antonella Quiroz (Argentina)

After losing the title to Brazil twice, in 2022 and 2023, Argentina finally were crowned continental champions at the 2025 South and Central American Women's Youth Handball Championship, and this came after a dramatic 23:22 win against Brazil in the final.

The top scorer in that match was Antonella Quiroz, who scored seven goals, following her amazing run of form throughout the competition. Quiroz had previously scored nine goals in the semi-final against Uruguay, six goals against Guatemala and four goals against Venezuela, finishing with 26 goals in four matches.

A centre back who can assist and also score, Quiroz will be integrant to Argentina’s hopes in this competition, as they face three European teams – Montenegro, the Netherlands and Portugal – in a very competitive group.

Zhang Jinwen (People's Republic of China)

The People’s Republic of China will be looking for a finish in the top-16 for the second time in a row, therefore making the main round once again, in a group where they face hosts Romania, Kazakhstan and Uruguay.

Several players who finished 14th at China 2026 will be in the squad and one of the players returning is the MVP of the 2025 AHF Asian Women’s Youth Handball Championship, Zhang Jinwen.

Zhang dazzled with her performances in the continental competition last year, which China won for the first time in history, and she scored eight goals at the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, hoping to bring more to the table in this competition too.

Nour Ouni (Tunisia)

Tunisia will have their work cut out at Romania 2026, as their chances of progressing are slim, facing Sweden and Hungary in Group E, as well as Canada. However, if China 2026 was an indicator for Tunisia’s strength, they can provide some tough tests for their opponents.

And one player who was also in the Under-20 team was back Nour Ouni, who will also make an appearance at the 2026 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship. Ouni, who will turn 18 in December, has scored 27 goals for a 71% efficiency, as well as dishing 16 assists and creating 16 clear chances with her passes.

She played 234 minutes at China 2026, being also the Player of the Match against the Chinese Taipei, therefore her experience could help Tunisia finish in the top-20 in the competition.

Ouni is also in good form, scoring 18 goals and being the joint top scorer in the Carpathian Trophy played in Romania before the start of the competition, in Tunisia’s losses against Japan, Egypt and Romania.