Brazil extended their winning streak at the South and Central American Women's Handball Championship to four titles in a row, after sweeping their opponents in the continental competition, with five wins in five matches, including a 31:22 win over Argentina in the decider, on Sunday.

Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are now the qualified teams for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, after finishing on the podium at the 2024 South and Central American Women's Handball Championship, as the latter side will be returning to the world handball flagship competition for the first time since 2011.

Six teams lined up at the start of the 2024 South and Central American Women's Handball Championship, which was played in a round-robin format in Niterói, Brazil. One side, El Salvador, made its debut in the competition, while the other five teams were already established on the South and Central American stage, as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay fought for the coveted three places available for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship.

No surprises were recorded on the first day of competition, with Brazil taking a 34:20 win over Uruguay, while Argentina beat rookies El Salvador, 45:9. In the other match, Paraguay beat Chile, 28:21, taking a big step towards the podium, as they aimed to return to the world handball flagship competition.

Brazil and Argentina then extended their winning streaks, with the hosts beating Paraguay, 40:13, while Argentina took a convincing 32:18 win over Uruguay, with the two favourited going head-to-head until the end of the competition.

Then, Argentina took wins against Paraguay (36:26) and Chile (30:23), while Brazil dominated El Salvador (48:3) and Chile (42:11), with some fantastic defensive displays, which saw the reigning South and Central American champions boasting only 47 goals conceded in their first four matches.

The biggest surprise was Uruguay’s 25:20 win over Paraguay in the third day, which meant that Uruguay had the biggest chance of finishing third, provided they also deliver a good match against Chile, as Paraguay were left emptyhanded after a disappointing second half, after the two teams were tied at the break, 11:11.

The last day saw Uruguay clinch the third place with a 27:18 win over Chile, before the final showdown between Brazil and Argentina. But there was no question about the winner, as Brazil extended their winning streak in the competition to 19 matches, dating back to the inaugural edition, in 2018.

After taking a 17:11 lead at the break, Brazil took a commanding 31:22 win over Argentina, with star centre back Bruna de Paula scoring six goals, and leading the way to Brazil’s fourth consecutive title.

Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay now join the two co-hosts, Germany and the Netherlands, plus the reigning world champions, France, with six teams now qualified for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship.

2024 South and Central American Women's Handball Championship – final standings
1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Uruguay
4. Paraguay
5. Chile
6. El Salvador

Credit photo: HandballSCA / Germán Paez