Japan secured a thrilling 25-24 victory over defending champions Republic of Korea to claim their second Asian Women’s Handball Championship title at the 20th edition of the tournament, held from 3rd to 10th December 2024 at K. D. Jadhav Wrestling Stadium, New Delhi, India. The championship, originally scheduled to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was later moved to India, making it the first time the tournament was hosted in the country.
Eight teams participated in the event, divided into two groups:
Group A: Republic of Korea (16-time champions and defending titleholders), People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, and Singapore.
Group B: Host India, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran, and Hong Kong-China.
After an intense group stage, Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Japan, and I. R. Iran advanced to the semi-finals.
Road to the Final
Semi-final 1: Republic of Korea dominated I. R. Iran with a 33-20 victory.
Semi-final 2: Japan overpowered Kazakhstan 30-23 to secure their place in the final.
Bronze Medal Match: Kazakhstan clinched third place with a 28-22 win over I. R. Iran.
A Historic Final – Japan’s First Win Over Korea in a Championship Final
The final between Japan and the Republic of Korea marked their sixth consecutive championship final clash and eighth overall, with Japan never having defeated Korea in a final before.
Korea appeared to be on course for another title, leading 12-9 at halftime after a dominant first half, during which Japan failed to score for the last 8 minutes and 13 seconds. However, Japan staged a stunning comeback in the second half, powered by Kaho Nakayama (7 goals) and Yuki Yoshidome (5 goals).
Japan’s Natsuki Aizawa scored the team’s last two goals, sealing a 25-24 victory and etching Japan’s name in history with their second continental title.
A Rivalry Renewed
The Japan-Korea rivalry has been well-documented, with Korea previously defeating Japan in extra time (34-29) in the 2022 AHF Asian Women’s Handball Championship final and securing a one-goal victory in the AHF Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament for Paris 2024. This time, however, Japan had the final word, proving their continuous improvement since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where they also stunned Denmark at the IHF Women’s World Championship.
Qualified Teams for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship
All four semi-finalists—Japan, Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, and I. R. Iran—have secured their spots at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship.
Final Standings
Gold: Japan
Silver: Republic of Korea
Bronze: Kazakhstan
4th – I. R. Iran
5th – P. R. China
6th – India
7th – Hong Kong-China
8th – Singapore
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) congratulates all participating teams for their incredible performances and extends gratitude to India for hosting a successful tournament. The event showcased the ever-growing strength of Asian women’s handball, setting the stage for an exciting future.
