Sunday evening was reserved for the first knock-out matches of the World Games beach handball competitions.

 

With the preliminary round completed teams moved to the crucial quarter finals and a chance to make the semi-finals on Sunday.

 

QUARTER FINALS – WOMEN

 

Brazil – Japan 2-0  (15-3, 11-9)

 

The Brazilians remain unbeaten in the World Games. An easy win for Brazil against the Japanese, who have yet to gain a victory in the competition.

 

Italy – Chinese Taipei 2-0 (14-10, 24-18)

 

Disappointment for the hosts’ large number of fans in the sold-out Sizihwan Arena. The European champions showed just how they earned that title with a clear win.

 

Thailand – FYRO Macedonia 0-2 (10-16, 8-14)

 

Thailand managed a win against Japan in the preliminary round but the Macedonians were simply too strong in the quarter finals.

 

Ukraine – Croatia 0-2 (12-14, 16-19)

 

A re-match of the Beach Euro bronze medal game played just a few weeks ago in Norway saw Croatia victorious once again against Ukraine.

 

The Ukrainians failed to trouble the experienced Croats and now go through to the competition play-off matches.

 

QUARTER FINALS – MEN

 

Turkey – Oman 1-2 (16-17, 14-9,6-9)

 

The first major shock of the World Games. Turkey unbeaten throughout the championships, winners of Group A, beaten by Oman, who have failed to perform throughout the championships.

 

Oman only managed to win one set throughout the championships have disposed of a Turkish team, who earlier beat the reigning world champions, Croatia

 

Brazil – Thailand 2-0 (22-11, 16-12)

 

The Brazilian underlined their title chances in their quarter final clash, cruising past a Thailand team still looking for a win in this tournament.

 

They meet the Croatian world champions in the semi-finals.

 

Chinese Taipei – Croatia 1-2 (17-20, 17-16, 2-7)

 

The hosts of the World Games nearly pulled off a coup in the final match on the main court. There was standing room only as Chinese Taipei took on the world champions from Croatia.

 

The Croats failed to play their own game, following the high speed pace of the Chinese Taipei players, and made far too many mistakes.

 

Experience showed in the shoot-out though and Croatia scraped into the semi-final.

 

A fantastic performance from a Chinese Taipei team, who before the World Games, had never played an international level beach handball game.

 

Pakistan – Hungary 0-2 (5-19, 9-11)

  Pakistan, winners of the Asian Beach Games last year, fell apart in front of a strong and experienced Hungarian side. Hungary strolled past the Pakistanis and meet shock semi-finalts, Oman.