On Sunday, the Hungarian women’s handball team clinched their Olympic quota by finishing the qualification tournament with a commanding 37–28 victory over Japan at the Főnix (Phoenix) Arena in Debrecen, as reported by Magyar Nemzet.
On Sunday evening, the British–Swedish match preceded the Hungarian–Japanese clash, concluding with a predictable 52–8 victory for the Nordic team. With one win for the Japanese and two for the Hungarians leading up to the final game, it was expected that even a four-goal Hungarian defeat would secure Hungary’s spot in the knockout stages.
The outcome of the match was largely determined in the first half, despite both teams making numerous mistakes early on. By the midpoint of the first half, Hungary had already established a seven-goal lead, indicating that our chances of securing a spot in Paris were not under threat.
The momentum continued in the second half, and after thirty minutes, Hungary was leading 18–11, a scoreline more than sufficient for qualification. Ultimately, the Hungarian team, performing beyond expectations, secured victory with a higher goal difference than anticipated, a dominant 37–28.
Katrin Klujber stood out as the most successful Hungarian player in the match,
scoring an impressive 11 goals.
Hungary clinched victory in all three of its group matches, securing qualification for the Olympics with a flawless performance. Additionally, Hungary’s men’s team, having earned their quota in March, will also be present in Paris. Notably, this marks the first time since the 2004 Athens Olympics that both the Hungarian men’s and women’s teams will compete together.
‘Three victories, first place, but most importantly, Paris awaits us!’ said national captain Vladimir Golovin after the match. He expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the hard work they put in leading up to this moment.
Katrin Klujber also praised her teammates, stating:
‘We achieved this weekend as a team; everyone contributed their best, including the players and the professional staff. Some of us have been to the Olympics before, but it’s fantastic to know that we can experience it again.’
The Olympic groups will be drawn on Tuesday at 17.30 in Paris.
Related articles:
