The action started early in Chinese Taipei this morning as the World Games beach handball tournament reaches its conclusion.

 

All 16 teams are in action throughout the day with men’s and women’s semi-finals, finals as well as placement matches.

 

Women - Semi-finals

 

Brazil – Croatia 1-2 (10-15, 16-4, 6-8)

 

The defending champions, Brazil, met the world champions, Croatia, both teams tipped as possible contenders for the title at the start of the tournament.

 

The Croatians took the first set but completely ran out of steam in the second, losing 16-4, the effort of playing twice a day in the high temperatures and humidity of Chinese Taiwan obviously having an effect on the final day of competition.

 

The shoot-out went to sudden death, Croatia’s Ivana Lovric missing a crucial one-point shot on Croatia’s final attempt.

 

The hero of the day was Snejezana Botica, with 9 points, who scored Croatia’s final shot of the game and took them to the World Games final.

 

FYRO Macedonia – Italy 0-2 (19-20, 11-19)

 

The European champions are in another major beach championship, following their victory in the Beach Euro in Norway in June, the first gold medal for the Italian Handball Federation in any major championship.

 

Italy will meet the Croats after disposing of the Macedonians on the main court in Kaohsiung.

 

Playing in temperatures well over 30 degrees the Italians proved that they have put the euphoria of the Euro win behind him and have focused on the next title. They beat FYRO Macedonia by two clear sets.

 

Men – Semi final

 

Oman – Hungary 0-2 (12-22, 18-21)

 

Oman may have raised their game in the quarter finals and notched up the shock of the tournament with the defeat of Turkey, but they were unable to cause another sensation against Hungary.

 

Hungary made it through to the semi-finals without too many problems, winning both sets and setting up a date with the Brazilians in the men’s World Games final.

 

Croatia – Brazil 1-2 (22-20, 17-19, 10-11)

 

The world champions failed in their mission to make it to the World Games final.

 

They were beaten by the South Americans in a dramatic final shoot-out by one goal in sudden death.

 

Croatia now play Oman for the bronze medal, a match they should win if they can lift their spirits after this defeat.

 

Brazil meet Hungary in the men’s final at 8.30 pm local time (GMT +8)