'The Only Ball Sport' Women's Handball Fails to Reach Quarterfinals... Narrow Defeat to Denmark [Paris Olympics]

The South Korean women's handball team, the only ball sport team representing Korea at the Olympics, failed to advance to the quarterfinals after being eliminated in the group stage.

On the 1st (local time), the women's handball group stage match between Korea and Sweden in Group A of the 2024 Paris Olympics was held at South Paris Arena 6 in Paris, France. Korea's Song Ji-young is taking a shot.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Led by coach Henrik Signell, Korea lost 20-28 to Denmark in the fifth match of Group A in the women's handball group stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, held on the morning of the 4th (Korean time) at the South Paris Arena in Paris, France.

Korea finished the group stage with 1 win and 4 losses, tied with Germany and Slovenia, but ranked 5th in the group due to goal difference.

Earlier in Group A, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (4 wins and 1 loss) had already secured their spots in the quarterfinals. The last remaining quarterfinal ticket went to Germany.

Korea needed to win this match to have a chance at advancing to the quarterfinals. However, they struggled more than in the previous game and found it difficult to break through the opponent's goal.

On the 1st (local time), the women's handball group stage match between Korea and Sweden in Group A of the 2024 Paris Olympics was held at South Paris Arena 6 in Paris, France. Korea's Woo Bitna is attempting a shot.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Against Denmark, Korea attempted 18 shots, but 10 were saved by Danish goalkeeper Sandra Toft, resulting in repeated failed attacks. They ended the first half trailing 8-12. In the second half, a Danish player was sent off, giving Korea a temporary numerical advantage, but they failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Accordingly, the quarterfinal matches of this tournament will be held on the 6th, featuring Norway vs. Brazil, Sweden vs. Hungary, the Netherlands vs. Denmark, and France vs. Germany.

This is the second time since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games that the South Korean women's handball team has been eliminated in the Olympic group stage. Korea advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but could not maintain that momentum in this tournament.

For Korea, Woo Bitna (Seoul City Hall) scored 5 goals, while Kang Eunhye and Kang Kyungmin (both from SK) each scored 4 goals.

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