Heraklion 2022 has come to an end. After two weeks of action on the beaches of Heraklion, Greece, the beach handball tournament has drawn to a close.
On the final day of the IHF Beach Handball World Championships for Women and Men – which took place following the Youth tournament – the teams secured their places in the world rankings.
Results for the seven participating teams
In the women’s competition, Argentina beat Portugal 2–0 to finish seventh in the world rankings, matching their position at the previous edition in Kazan in 2018.
Despite their final placing, the Argentinians had a great tournament; Lucila Balsas was named the tournament’s best specialist and was selected for the all-star team.
Brazil dropped three places in the rankings after losing 1–2 to Denmark and finishing sixth in the tournament.
The Uruguayan team suffered the same fate, dropping from 10th to 12th place at Heraklion 2022. Las Celestes lost 1-2 to Norway in a match that went to a nail-biting shoot-out.
Women’s Results:
7th-8th Argentina vs Portugal 2-0 (22:18/18:16)
11th-12th Norway vs Uruguay 2-1 (20:21/22:16/16:14)
15th-16th Australia vs Mexico 0-2
5th-6th Brazil vs Denmark 1-2 (18:14/16:20/6:7)
9th-10th Hungary vs Thailand 2-0
13th-14th United States vs Vietnam 1-2
3rd-4th Greece vs Netherlands 1-2
Final Spain vs Germany 0-2
Women’s ranking Heraklion 2022:
1. Germany
2. Spain
3. The Netherlands
4. Greece
5. Denmark
6. Brazil
7. Argentina
8. Portugal
9. Hungary
10. Thailand
11. Norway
12. Uruguay
13. Vietnam
14. United States
15. Mexico
16. United States
Men’s teams
As for the men’s teams, Heraklion 2022 was a surprise and a historic tournament for all the teams.
Firstly, Uruguay and Ecuador made history on Greek soil. The Celeste team achieved their best-ever performance at a Beach Handball World Cup, reaching 6th place in the world rankings, a position that far surpasses the 15th place they secured at Kazan 2018.
As for Ecuador, the team competing in a World Championship in this discipline for the first time, managed to secure 13th place after defeating New Zealand for the second time.
Ecuador thus concludes its participation with five victories on its World Championship debut.
Meanwhile, Brazil also set new milestones in its ninth World Championship campaign. For the first time in its history, the five-time champions did not reach the final and had to fight for a place on the podium.
The Brazilians faced Greece in the third-place play-off and secured their first bronze medal after winning 2-0.
Their players remain top-class, with the legendary Gil Pires named in the all-star team as best centre.
Finally, like their compatriots, Argentina retained the same position as in the previous edition after defeating the United States 2–0. The Albicelestes thus retain 11th place in the world rankings.
Male Branch Results:
7°-8° Norway vs Spain 0-2
11°-12° Argentina vs United States 2-0 (23:20/27:20)
15°-16° Puerto Rico vs Egypt 0-2
5°-6° Qatar vs Uruguay 2-0 (19:18/18:16)
9°-10° Iran vs Portugal 2-0
13°-14° Ecuador vs New Zealand 2-1 (22:14/22:24/8:2)
3°-4° Greece vs Brazil 0-2 (15:18/18:24)
Final Croatia vs Denmark 2-0
Men’s ranking Heraklion 2022:
1. Croatia
2. Denmark
3. Brazil
4. Greece
5. Qatar
6. Uruguay
7. Spain
8. Norway
9. Iran
10. Portugal
11. Argentina
12. United States
13. Ecuador
14. New Zealand
15. Egypt
16. Puerto Rico
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