The International Handball Federation (IHF) has held the draws for the men's and women's competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the men's Group A seeing South American powerhouse Argentina, European champions Spain and world number one Germany drawn together.
The draw was held at the IHF headquarters in Basel in Switzerland, and conducted virtually due to COVID-19 protocols.
Twelve men's and women's teams will throw off for handball supremacy in Japan this summer. The reigning Olympic champions are out to defend their titles in Tokyo but a lot can change in five years!
On the women's side, the Russian handball team were hit hard by injuries at the December 2020 European championships and they didn’t even make the semi-finals. It was Norway who dominated in Denmark, claiming an eight continental crown, and if they can keep star players fit then many see them as favourites to top the podium in the Japanese capital too. World champions Netherlands will be determined to bounce back from a disappointing show at the Euros in Denmark.
And traditional powerhouse France - Euro 2020 runner-up, an ROC team that recovers their big guns, 'Hollywood' history makers Korea, can all present a serious case for podium places. For the men, Denmark back themselves after a second straight World Championship victory at Egypt 2021 in January. But they'll have to hold off European champions Spain, Tokyo 2020 runners-up France, an unpredictable Norway and runners-up in Egypt Sweden.
For Norway’s women the Stine Oftedal-Nora Mørk connection is electric (although Mørk is recovering from a knee injury and only took penalties in the qualifying tournament), allied to the minor miracles performed by goalkeeper Silje Solberg and the precision and experience of players like Camilla Herrem, a survivor from Norway's gold at London 2012.
The top four from the two groups advance to the last eight where the event enters the knockout stage. The handball tournament starts on 24 July at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo. All matches - including the men’s final on 7 August and the women’s showdown the following day - will be played at the venue.
Mikkel Hansen (Denmark)is one of the stand-out players of the reigning Olympic champions, the 33-year-old left back is known for his impressive ability to score goals. He was chosen as world player of the year by the International Handball Federation (IHF) three times, most recently in 2018.
Nikola Karabatic (France)is the versatile playmaker who is looking to go out on a high at the Tokyo Games following an injury. The 37-year-old, whose father played handball for Yugoslavia and who moved to France when he was four-years-old, won silver with France at the 2016 Olympics and gold at the 2012 and 2008 Games.
The playmaker Yahia Khaled (Egypt) will be a driving force in the Egyptian men’s squad in its attempt to secure a surprise Olympic medal, which is something the upcoming Pharaohs are striving for. He is known for his goal-scoring ability.
The odds on handball at the 2021 Summer Olympics is in the menu to the left.
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