The 18th Asian Women’s Junior Handball Championship, currently underway in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been a stern test for the Indian team.
While the results so far have been mixed with one win and two defeats in their opening three matches the tournament has laid bare both the opportunities and challenges that define India’s path forward in women’s handball. Though early losses to Uzbekistan and China ended any hopes of a top-two group finish, the campaign is far from over. With qualification for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship awarded to the top four finishers overall. Their journey now pivots to placement matches, which will test their adaptability, resilience, and hunger to prove themselves against comparable opposition.
India entered the 2025 edition with both optimism and expectations, buoyed by their gold medal in the 2022 Asian Junior Championship. That triumph was a historic first, but it came under unusual circumstances powerhouses like Korea, China, and Japan were absent due to pandemic-related restrictions. This year, with the full complement of Asia’s elite back in action, the championship has provided a far more accurate reflection of India’s standing.
Losses to Uzbekistan (29–46) and China (21–36) underscored the current performance gap with the continent’s strongest teams. Still, these matches also offered invaluable experience something that was lacking three years ago when India’s win came in a weakened field.
Group A: Results So Far
India has been placed in Group A alongside hosts Uzbekistan, China, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong.
The standings after three rounds are:
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Uzbekistan (H) 3 3 0 0 120 71 +49 6 Semi-finals
2 China 3 3 0 0 95 46 +49 6 Semi-finals
3 Chinese Taipei 3 1 0 2 73 71 +2 2 5–8th place semi-finals
4 India 3 1 0 2 89 107 -18 2 5–8th place semi-finals
5 Hong Kong 4 0 0 4 66 148 -82 0 9th place game
After a heavy defeat in their opener against Uzbekistan, India’s confidence was further dented by the loss to China. However, the team bounced back with a commanding 39–25 win over Hong Kong, showing glimpses of the attacking cohesion and defensive intensity they are capable of.
Final Group Clash: India vs. Chinese Taipei
India’s last group match against Chinese Taipei is vital—not for semi-final progression, but for seeding in the placement playoffs.
Comparative results so far:
Opponent India’s Result Chinese Taipei’s Result
Uzbekistan Lost 29–46 Lost 27–29
China Lost 21–36 Lost 14–27
Hong Kong Won 39–25 Won 32–15
On paper, Chinese Taipei has been more competitive against the group’s heavyweights, especially in their narrow two-goal defeat to Uzbekistan. Further, at the 2025 Asian Youth Championship (U18) held just a month earlier, Chinese Taipei beat India 29–24 in a similar 5–8th place playoff. This recent history adds weight to the challenge ahead: India must prove they’ve closed the gap.
Lessons from Tashkent
India’s campaign so far highlights key realities:
- Performance Gap with the Elite: Losses to Uzbekistan and China show India still trails behind Asia’s best. But exposure to these matches is essential to understand international demands.
- Depth in Attack: The 39 goals against Hong Kong demonstrated India’s offensive potential. Players are increasingly confident in transition play and quick passing sequences.
- Defensive Sturdiness Still Lacking: Conceding 46 goals against Uzbekistan shows defensive systems need major strengthening. Closing this gap is vital if India aims for sustained success.
- Experience Matters: Unlike the 2022 win in a weakened field, facing full-strength Asian teams provides a reality check and sets a more authentic benchmark for future planning.
The road ahead is challenging, but not closed. A win over Chinese Taipei could provide a more favorable draw in the placement semifinals and build momentum. Regardless of the final standings, this campaign should be viewed as a developmental milestone rather than a failure. For a sport still establishing itself in India, every match against Asia’s top teams is a step forward.
The players gain not only competitive experience but also the confidence to push the bar higher.
India’s junior women’s team may not have repeated their 2022 golden run, but in many ways, the 2025 Asian Championship is more important. Competing against Asia’s strongest sides in a full-strength field has exposed weaknesses, tested resilience, and offered lessons no domestic camp could provide. Their campaign is still alive, with a chance to fight through the 5th–8th bracket for a World Championship spot. More than results, though, this journey is about building a culture of consistent international competitiveness.
If the team can channel the experience of Tashkent into long-term growth, Indian women’s handball will emerge stronger, hungrier, and better prepared for the global stage.
