The very first beach handball matches in the history of the Olympic Games got underway in Buenos Aires at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, with three teams in each preliminary group ending the day with a 100% record of two wins out of two.

2018 Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aires

Matchday 1: Women’s Preliminary Round - Monday 8 October

- Netherlands’ goalkeeper Lisanne Bakker makes history, scoring first-ever points in Olympic beach handball, 43 seconds into the game
- All 12 women’s teams played two games, one in the morning, one in the afternoon
- U17 World Champions Hungary with two wins out of two, hosts 100% too
- Croatia, Chinese Taipei, Netherlands and Venezuela also on maximum points

For all match schedules, results and statistics click HERE.

Women’s Preliminary Round: Group A
Hungary lived up to pre-tournament expectations as one of the clear favourites to take gold in Buenos Aires as the U17 world champions made it two wins out of two on the first day with victories over non-European opposition in American Samoa and Mauritius, ending the day with four points out of four.

In a group which features teams from four continents (Africa, Europe, Oceania and South America) the Hungarians dispatched their opposition with ease to end the day top of the group thanks to a superior points difference to second-placed Croatia, who also won both of their games 2:0, against Mauritius and Russian Federation. Chinese Taipei are also on maximum points having beaten Russian in a shoot-out (2:1) and American Samoa 2:0.

Zoltan Pinizsi’s Hungarian side, who are also European U18 title holders, were led by pivot Rebeka Benzsay, with 19 points in their two games, and specialist/left-wing Csenge Braun who scored 10 in each match, while at the other end, goalkeepers Dalma Matefi ended against American Samoa with a 60% save rate (3 saves from five shots) and Greta Hadfi ended with a 57% rate against Mauritius.

Other notable performances in the group came from Croatian winger Anja Vida Luksic who scored 12 points in their 2:0 win over Russia, while Chinese Taipei left winger Pinchun Lin, with nine against Russia and eight against American Samoa, ended the opening day with 17 points.

The Asian side beat Russia in the only shoot-out of the day in the women’s competition after the Europeans missed their following three shots after Taipei had drawn level (4:4) in the dramatic finale.

The Russians lie in fourth, having won that one period against Taipei, but remain without any points after losing both of their games, like Mauritius (fifth) and American Samoa, who lie bottom (sixth).

Results
HUN vs ASA 2:0 (24:9, 18:4)
TPE vs RUS 2:1 (15:9, 29:18, SO 7:4)
CRO vs MRI 2:0 (17:4, 13:2)
RUS vs CRO 0:2 (10:14, 16:23)
MRI vs HUN 0:2 (2:26, 4:25)
ASA vs TPE 0:2 (8:28, 1:29)

Women’s Preliminary Round: Group B
The Netherlands ensured they made history early as goalkeeper Lisanne Bakker was the surprising first-ever points scorer in Olympic beach handball, when she slotted home into an unguarded Paraguay net after just 43 seconds into their opening 2:0 victory, against the South Americans.

The 2017 IHF Women’s U17 World Championship silver medallists, who also won the EHF EURO U17 the same year and U16 the previous year, ended the day top of the group on points difference, ahead of Argentina and Venezuela, who also won both of their opening games to collect four points each.

With the goalscoring shared amongst the team, the Dutch were impressive in their two wins which saw them also beat Hong Kong, with two dominant second period victories of 27:3 and 14:2 in their two games but know that tougher tests will await them.

Host nation Argentina were equally as impressive, playing both of their games in front of a full central arena, beating both Turkey and Paraguay 2:0 in matches where they were never troubled. Gisella Bonomi scored 12 points combined in the two games as her side thrived on the atmosphere generated by the partisan supporters and the smiles and celebrations at the end revealed a lifting of the pressure which comes from playing as hosts.

Fellow South Americans Venezuela won both of their games 2:0, but they were made to work – in the first period against Hong Kong and second against Turkey. Right wing Lilesky Reolon (nine points) and pivot Wisleidy Medina (10) were the top-scorers for Venezuela in their matches.

For Turkey, Paraguay and Hong Kong, they will be hoping tomorrow brings better luck as they lie in fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively on zero points each.

Results
ARG vs TUR 2:0 (20:6, 20:14)
NED vs PAR 2:0 (18:14, 14:2)
VEN vs HKG 2:0 (19:14, 12:6)
PAR vs ARG 0:2 (10:17, 6:20)
TUR vs VEN 0:2 (13:20, 14:18)
HKG vs NED 0:2 (8:24, 3:27)