China 2024 IHF Beach Handball World Championships draw completed in Basel
03 May. 2024
The International Handball Federation (IHF) Head Office in Basel, Switzerland was the setting on Friday for the group draws of the 11th IHF Menās and Womenās Beach Handball World Championships.
The two global events will be played side-by-side at the āPingtan International Beach Sports Baseā at Long Wangtou Ocean Park on Pingtan Island, Peopleās Republic of China from 18 to 23 June 2024.
This edition marks the 20-year anniversary of the IHF Menās and Womenās Beach Handball World Championships, after it made its debut in 2004 in Egypt, with 32 national teams set to travel from across the world to compete for global glory in Asia.
The draw was conducted by Hristo Boskoski, IHF office member responsible for Beach Handball.
As organisers, the Peopleās Republic of China (CHN) had the right to choose the groups in which they competed. This applied to both the menās and womenās competitions.
Tough groups, tough competition expected
The draw event started with the womenās competition and saw the United States of America come out of the pot first. A further 11 teams were drawn before a short pause for hosts Peopleās Republic of China to choose their group. The home nation chose Group A, featuring debutants Philippines.
A further three teams were drawn, ending with Brazil ā who won the 2006, 2012, and 2014 titles and who were drawn into group D which also features the last two winners of the IHF Womenās Beach Handball World Championships ā 2018 champions Greece and 2022 winners Germany.
Puerto Rico were first to be drawn in the menās competition with 11 more teams drawn ahead of the break to allow the Peopleās Republic of China to choose their group.
They chose Group B, a group that will also feature Brazil, Spain and Tunisia.
Current world champions Croatia were drawn into Group C, alongside Puerto Rico, Portugal and Argentina.
For further information on the team competing, clickĀ HERE.Ā
The draws were made as follows:
2024 IHF Menās Beach Handball World Championship
Group A: Australia (AUS), Oman (OMA), Denmark (DEN), Hungary (HUN)
Group B: Tunisia (TUN), Spain (ESP), Peopleās Republic of China (CHN), Brazil (BRA)
Group C: Puerto Rico (PUR), Portugal (POR), Argentina (ARG), Croatia (CRO)
Group D: United States of America (USA), Uruguay (URU), Qatar (QAT), Germany (GER)
2024 IHF Womenās Beach Handball World Championship
Group A: Australia (AUS), Philippines (PHI), Peopleās Republic of China (CHN), Portugal (POR)
Group B: Croatia (CRO), Vietnam (VIE), Argentina (ARG), Spain (ESP)
Group C: United States of America (USA), Denmark (DEN), Norway (NOR), Netherlands (NED)
Group D: Puerto Rico (PUR), Greece (GRE), Brazil (BRA), Germany (GER)
Competition Format
The menās and womenās competitions feature 16 teams each, initially divided into four preliminary round groups of four teams each.
The top three teams in each group (12 in total) move through to two main round groups of six teams each, with the top four in each then moving through to the quarter-finals and subsequent semi-finals, bronze medal, placement and final matches.
The bottom team in each of the four preliminary groups will move into the consolation round.
Match schedule
The match schedule and throw-off times will be decided and communicated in due course via IHF.info.Ā Please note ā the IHF reserves the right to change the throw-off times and other details of the match schedule at any time within the principles of the āRegulations for IHF Competitionsā.
Playing squads
All 32 teams competing at China 2024 have to provide a provisional list of a maximum of 20 players by 18 May 2024 (one month before the start of the event). All players must be eligible to play and be a minimum of 16 years old (born by, or earlier than, 2008).
To watch the draw again visitĀ the main International Handball Federation (IHF) YouTube Channel.