The first round of President’s Cup matches at the 2016 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship saw Chile record their first-ever win in their maiden appearance at the tournament, while Tunisia beat Uzbekistan in the opening match of the day at CSKA Palace of Sport. 

In the second President's Cup matches of the day played simultaneously in the two venues, Montenegro finished with a five-goal win against Austria and P.R. of China defeated debutants Egypt to qualify for the President's Cup final on July 12. 

Sport Palace Dynamo Krylatskoe, Monday 11 July
President’s Cup: Kazakhstan vs Chile 34:35 (19:16)

Chile opened up an early lead of 2:0 inside the first two minutes, then moved ahead to 3:1 before they began to make some attacking errors that were converted into goals by Kazakhstan. Just after the 10-minute mark back Francisca Zavala Reyes (seven goals) scored an in-flight goal to keep the advantage at two, but Kazakhstan closed the gap moments later and Chile coach Miguel Interllige called his first time-out of the match in the 11th (6:5 to Chile). 

Midway through the half Chile looked to be gaining control as they pulled in front to 10:6, but within the next five minutes Kazakhstan recorded a 5:1 run that saw them equalise at 11:11 as the last 10 minutes of the period approached. With Catalina Morena Cordova out on a two-minute suspension Chile just held the edge, but then Isidora Franco Bastidas was sent to the bench and with only four players on court Chile could not hold on. 

By half-time the momentum had well and truly swung toward Kazakhstan, who took a three-goal lead into the break. But as they did in their round five match against P.R. of China, Chile came roaring back after half-time. 10 minutes into the second half the Pan American side had decreased the deficit to one at 22:23, and with Kazakhstan’s Sabina Ussenova out on a two-minute suspension Chile equalised. 

From there the teams could not be separated, and at the 50-minute mark it was a one-goal game with Kazakhstan narrowly in front at 29:28. Kazakhstan pulled ahead to 33:29 before Chile showed how hard they can fight in the final minutes, closing the deficit to two with a ground shot from Zavala, then taking the advantage as the clock ticked down. 

Kazakhstan were within one in the final minute, but they could not equalise and the Pan American side held on to record their first ever win at an IHF Junior (U20) World Championship. 

“It’s a little strange feeling,” said Zavala after the match. “We think all things because we could do a lot better, so in that way we are sad, but we are happy too. It’s our first win and that’s something – a big something.”

President’s Cup: Egypt vs P.R. of China 21:34 (9:17)

Both teams were clearly ready to work hard for a win in this match, and it was therefore a furious first five minutes with a two-minute suspension for each side and a level score of 2:2 at the end of that period. 

The score line may have progressed a little slower than China would have liked, but an advantage is an advantage and the Asian team held it as the clock ticked on. Midway through the half they held a three-goal lead at 6:3, and with five minutes left in the period had increased it to four at 12:8. 

China’s dominance became more apparent as the match progressed, as they allowed Egypt to score only one more in the half while adding another five of their own. Within five minutes they moved ahead to hold an eight-goal advantage at the break, with seven goals from top scorer Yanqun Lin in the period. 

When the second half began China retained that difference until Qingcong Mu received a red card in the 35th when the score stood at 19:12. In the end the suspension in a crucial period made little difference to the outcome of the match, as China continued to increase their advantage through till the final whistle, when they finished with a 13-goal lead that earns them a place in the President’s Cup Final to be played on July 12. 

CSKA Palace of Sport, Monday 11 July
President’s Cup: Uzbekistan vs Tunisia 20:33 (10:13)

Tunisia opened the day of matches in CSKA Palace of Sport with their first win at Russia 2016, defeating Uzbekistan by a substantial 13 goals with some exceptional individual performances. The stars of the game for the African team were their top scorer so far at the championship, back Chaima Jouini, who tallied 12 goals, and right wing Aya Ben Abdallah, who scored 11 goals at 100% to contribute to the win. 

Tunisia were the first on the board and allowed Uzbekistan to score only one before adding four consecutive goals that created an early advantage at 5:1 in the eighth minute. Uzbekistan fought hard to come back, putting in a 5:0 run midway through the half that took the score to 8:8 in the 19th. 

The African team finished the half stronger, creating a crucial three-goal lead by the break – but they won the match in the first 10 minutes of the second period with six unanswered goals that took the score to 19:10 within eight minutes. After that point it was a fairly even contest, but the nine-goal advantage proved enough to decide the game and Tunisia managed to increase the score line to finish 13 goals ahead. 

President’s Cup: Montenegro vs Austria 30:25 (11:10)

Austria played an up and down group phase that made it clear the outcome of this match would depend largely on whether they managed a strong performance or an underwhelming one. They did put on a good show, but ultimately conceded a defeat that means they will contest the 19/20 play-off against Egypt, while Montenegro go on to the final against P.R. of China. 

It was a well-matched contest from the first whistle, with the first two goals scored by Montenegro before Ines Ivancok (six goals) added the first for Austria. The 60 minutes were somewhat of a two-on-two situation, with Ivancok and Patricia Kovacs (10 goals) leading Austria while Vanessa Agovic and Tatjana Brnovic stood out for Montenegro with seven goals each. 

After Montenegro pulled ahead to a 9:5 advantage by the 19th minute, Austria answered with five consecutive goals that put the score at 10:9 with little over two minutes left in the period, before Montenegro scored the last two goals of the half to claim a one-goal difference at the break. 

The second half was one-for-one until Brnovic scored three goals and Milica Carapic added one to create a four-goal advantage for Montenegro in the 52nd minute (22:18), which would prove crucial as the clock ticked on. For the last eight minutes Austria kept pace, but the damage was already done and Montenegro held on to record a five-goal win.