The second day of the women’s beach handball competition at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, saw five nations seal their main round spot with just one spot left for teams to progress through to the final six teams.

2018 Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aires

Matchday 2: Women’s Preliminary Round - Tuesday 9 October

- Hosts Argentina, along with Netherlands and Hungary maintained their perfect record with two more wins today, making it four out of four to book a main round spot
- Chinese Taipei and Croatia also make the last six with wins
- Venezuela and Paraguay still have hopes of qualifying, with both teams still in contention for final main round place
- Russia, along with American Samoa, Mauritius, Paraguay, Turkey and Hong Kong all have to settle for the consolation round 
- American Samoa register first win for Oceania in Youth Olympic Games

For all match schedules, results and statistics click  HERE. To follow the Games click HERE.

Women’s Preliminary Round: Group A
All the decisions were made in group A today as two further wins for U17 world champions Hungary ensured they went through to the main round and entered the last day of the preliminary round on top.

Thanks to 16 points each from top-scorers Rebeka Benzsay and Dorottya Gajdos, Hungary started the day with a win over Russia, who lost their third consecutive game via a shoot-out and who knew with that result their dreams of replicating an Olympic medal like their women’s senior indoor team were fading quickly.

Even though they won their second match of the day, against American Samoa 2:0, it was not enough, and Russia had to settle for a consolation round place. The Samoans had gone into the match above Russia in the table, having beaten Mauritius 2:0 in their opening match of the day.

Hungary went on to beat Croatia in their second match of the day, as Benzsay again top-scored (13 points), but after they had beaten Chinese Taipei earlier 2:0, Croatia – and their defeated Asian opponents, who beat Mauritius in their afternoon match – joined the Hungarians in the next stage.

Results
HUN vs RUS 2:1 (24:25, 25:14, SO 9:6)
TPE vs CRO 0:2 (11:20, 10:16)
ASA vs MRI 2:0 (13:7, 25:8)
TPE vs MRI 2:0 (30:5, 26:4)
CRO vs HUN 0:2 (10:15, 14:19)
RUS vs ASA 2:0 (33:7, 24:9)

Women’s Preliminary Round: Group B

Beach handball was described today by the national media in Argentina as the “revelation” sport of the Youth Olympic Games and this is down to the vibrancy and performances from both host nation teams.

Results and wins always help though and Argentina made it four out of four as they beat Venezuela and Hong Kong comfortably to end the day joint top with the Netherlands, who they play tomorrow morning in a group-winning clash.

When Fiorella Corimberto ended the second period by throwing full-length into an unguarded Venezuelan net, in front of a packed central court, the game was already won by her Argentina side, but the confidence and relaxation of her action, and her team. was clear to see.

Netherlands, silver medallists at the world championship last year, showed a slight chink in their armour as they lost their first period of the Youth Olympic Games when the Venezuelans won (21:20) the second one in their 2:1 shoot-out loss, after the Dutch had dominated the first (22:9.

Even though coach Harald Mulder saw his side win in the resulting shoot-out 7:6, his strong words at the end to the team on court, well after the match, ensured his team will continue their focus going into the main round.

Turkey won their first period of the championship, against Paraguay, but eventually lost 9:8 in a shoot-out, and, added to their 2:0 defeat against Netherlands earlier, they go into the consolation round too, just like Hong Kong, who lost both of their matches on day two, against Paraguay and Argentina.

But the story which remains unwritten in the group is whether Venezuela or Paraguay go through to the main round as both teams are equal on points for the remaining qualification spot, with Venezuela losing both of their games today and Paraguay winning both of theirs.

Results
ARG vs VEN 2:0 (17:14, 20:14)
PAR vs HKG 2:0 (13:9, 18:10)
NED vs TUR 2:0 (13:9, 25:12)
ARG vs HKG 2:0 (13:8, 24:5)
VEN vs NED 1:2 (9:22, 21:20, SO 6:7)
TUR vs PAR 1:2 (17:11, 13:21, SO 8:9)