Thais FERMO

Despite a strong makeover of their roster, including the absence of iconic centre back Isabelle Gullden, who retired from international handball after the Women’s EHF EURO 2020, Sweden will participate in their fourth consecutive Olympic Games.

The Scandinavian side earned their berth for Tokyo 2020 after going unbeaten at the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 Tournament 1, which saw them draw with Japan 2019 silver medallists Spain (28:28) and earn a clear-cut win against Argentina (34:21).

It is a crucial year for Spain, who will host the IHF Women’s World Championship come December.

Therefore, a strong performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is of the utmost importance, a morale booster in itself, with a crucial competition looming.

Five years ago, Russia were on the top of the world as they secured their first-ever gold medal at the Olympic Games after sweeping their opponents, including a commanding 22:19 win in the final against France.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have already been very different for the Norwegian women’s team – even before a ball has been thrown in Japan.

Despite being current European champions, having won the Women’s EHF EURO 2020 held in Denmark last December, the continental qualification place had already been taken – by France – back in 2018, before anyone had even heard of the word ‘COVID-19’.

In December 2019, the Netherlands upset the handball world by securing their first-ever IHF Women’s World Championship title in Kumamoto. Eighteen months later, the Dutch side are back in Japan trying to repeat their success.

Consistency has been key for the Dutch side, who completed their medal collection with one gold, one silver and one bronze each at the IHF Women’s World Championships between 2015 and 2019, adding a silver and a bronze at the Women’s EHF EURO in 2016 and 2018.

A silver at their first-ever Olympic Games – London 2012 – resulted in a national celebration in the tiny European nation of Montenegro, home to just over 620,000 people and then, a few months later, they defeated their Olympic final opponents Norway in the Women’s EHF EURO gold-medal match to spark even wilder scenes.

Since then, however, try as they might, the podium has been a distant place on the European, world and Olympic stage for the Montenegrin women.

In terms of total medals, and the rank of those won, Republic of Korea are the most successful team in the history of Olympic handball in either gender.

Though Denmark’s women have won three gold medals (but no silver or bronze) and therefore top the top medal tally from the time women’s handball was introduced to the Games in 1976, Korea’s six medals – two gold (1988, 1992), three silver (1984, 1996, 2004) and one bronze (2008) – is better than Norway’s six (two gold, two silver, two bronze).

They made their Olympic debut when the women’s game made its Olympic debut – at Montreal 1976 – but since then, for 45 long years, Japan’s women have failed to taste the Games again.

However, as hosts, they get a free pass to Tokyo 2020 and will be looking to inspire a generation at home as the squad gets the chance to perform at the highest level once again.

Only two teams, Norway and Republic of Korea, have won more medals at the Olympic Games than Hungary, who have three medals on their tally.

However, the Hungarian side have never struck gold in the competition, finishing second once, in 2000, and taking bronze twice, in 1976 and 1996.