The main round of beach handball at the Youth Olympic Games starts today with six men’s teams in contention still for the three medals on offer this Saturday (13 October).

All teams play each other twice today, before their third matches tomorrow.

2018 Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aires

Matchday 4: Men’s Main & Consolation Rounds – Thursday 11 October

- Argentina and Hungary enter main round with four points each, carried over from main round
- Portugal and Thailand have the most difficult journey to a podium spot, with both entering on zero points
- A number of duels today are repeats of clashes from the 2017 Men's World Championship (U17) and Men's EHF EURO (U18)
- Consolation Round also starts today with teams fighting it out for 7-12 place
- Mauritius' two games today are repeats of matches from world championship

For the match schedules and results click HERE and HERE. How to Follow the Games HERE.

Men’s Main Round: Day 1

In the final main round match of the day, Spain and Argentina resume their rivalry after the two teams met twice at the 2017 IHF Men's U17 World Championship in Mauritius last year. In their preliminary match, Spain won by a shoot-out (2:1), but, more devastatingly for the South Americans, the European nation beat them again in Africa - but this time in the semi-final, with a 2:0 victory as they went on to win gold and be crowned world champions.

With the home nation strongly supported here in Buenos Aires, they could witness their young team of heroes seal their place in the semi-finals, if they have not done already, depending on earlier results - including the hosts playing Thailand in their opening match - a repeat of the world championship quarter-final last year, which Argentina won by a shoot-out (2:1).

The opening two games of the day are all-European affairs and repeats of match-ups at the U18 EHF European Men's Championship held earlier this year in Montenegro. Hungary take on Portugal - the Hungarians beat their opponents 2:0 at the EHF EURO - and Spain taking on Croatia, with the Croatians looking for revenge after Spain beat them 11:10 on the shoot-out in the bronze medal match to win 2:1.

Thailand also play Portugal - a repeat of the 7/8 placement match in Mauritius, which Portugal won 2:0.

Matches (all times local)
11:40 HUN vs POR
11:40 ESP vs CRO
12:30 THA vs ARG
16:10 HUN vs CRO 
16:10 THA vs POR
17:00 ESP vs ARG

Men’s Consolation Round: Day 1
The consolation round starts today with teams looking to bounce back from the confirmation that they will not be winning an Olympic medal this time around.

The biggest surprise is that world championship silver medallists Italy are contesting for a place no higher than seventh. 

In the other matches Mauritius, who have grown in strength and confidence in Argentina, face Chinese Taipei and Venezuela and it will be interesting to see how the African side have progressed since their 2:0 losses against the South Americans in the main round and Asian side in the preliminary group in Mauritius.

Matches (all times local)
11:40 VEN vs PAR
12:30 TPE vs MRI
12:30 URU vs ITA
16:10 VEN vs MRI
17:00 TPE vs ITA
17:00 URU vs PAR