The last two games of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games women's beach handball competition saw Hungary win their bronze encounter, against Netherlands and Argentina defeat Croatia in the final.
2018 Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aires
Matchday 6: Women’s Finals Day – Saturday 13 October
- Argentina win Olympic gold with 2:0 win over Croatia, who take silver
- World champions Hungary settle for bronze, defeating Netherlands.
For all the statistics, click HERE and HERE.
Women’s Finals Day
Gold Medal (1/2 Place): Argentina vs Croatia 2:0 (14:10, 18:16)
The host nation closed the 2018 Youth Olympic Games beach handball competition in the perfect way, winning against Croatia to take gold and end the debut of the sport in a fairytale way for the host nation.
With a packed central court watching, complete with hundreds of spectators sitting on the sand on courts two and three viewing on big screens, the atmosphere was electric inside Sarmiento Park, which had been closed to spectators as it was full.
In the end, Leticia Brunati's side were never really troubled as Rosario Soto in goal made four crucial saves, combined with 10 points each from Carolina Ponce and Gisella Bonomi.
Croatia, who had beaten the strong Dutch side in their semi-final this morning had trouble breaking through the South American defence, ending with just a 52% success rate in front of goal, compared to 73% from Argentina.
Most notably this appeared in the first period when Ponce scored three times in a scoring run of four unanswered goals as her side went 12:6 up as Croatia could only find an answer through Anja Vida Luksic, who scored four of her sides' five goals in the first 10 minutes.
In the end, with their prowess in goal and deadly finishing, Argentina ended up winning 2:0 and made history as the first-ever women's beach handball gold medal winners.
Bronze Medal (3/4 Place): Netherlands vs Hungary 2:0 (16:13, 20:18)
World Champions Hungary recovered the quickest after the disappointment of their loss this morning in the semi-finals to easily overcome Netherlands in the bronze medal match of the women's beach handball competition.
A blistering opening run from the Hungarians in the first period saw them go 10:4 up before the Dutch mounted a brief comeback, but it was too little too late as Hungary held on with a one-pointer from Dorottya Gajdos at the end of the opening period to ensure the first period victory.
The second period was more even than the first but the Hungarians led for most of it as specialist Csenge Braun scored the last three goals to ensure there would be no drama at the end.