With only five appearances at the IHF Women’s World Championship, Paraguay are one of the least experienced teams featuring in the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournaments. The South American team made their debut at France 2007, where they finished 23rd, and went on to finish 21st at Serbia 2013 and Germany 2017, and 29th at Spain 2021 and Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023.

In total, Paraguay have won only nine of the 34 matches played in the world handball flagship competition, never secured a win against an European opponent, and always had a negative goal difference, with lopsided losses against stronger sides.

Nevertheless, the ambition is there and Paraguay have been improving in the last years, at least on a continental level, where they finish third – winning the bronze medal – at the SCAHC Women’s South and Central American Handball Championship in 2018 and 2021 and winning the Central American Women’s Handball Championship in 2023.

Paraguay have earned their spot for the Olympic Qualification Tournament after securing the third place at the Pan American Games back in November, the best-ever performance in the high-profile competition. In fact, it was Paraguay’s first-ever medal at the Pan American Games in their second appearance, after finishing seventh in 2007.

Back in October, Paraguay lost three matches – 15:27 against Brazil, 22:23 against Uruguay and 18:28 against Argentina in the semi-finals, but their 23:20 win against Chile sent Paraguay for the first time ever at the Olympic Qualification Tournaments, where they will be huge underdogs.

However, the South American side drew the short straw and will play in the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Neu-Ulm, Germany, alongside three European sides – Germany, Montenegro and Slovenia – a proposition which looks daunting at the least for Paraguay.

Just back in December, Paraguay have conceded losses against Hungary (12:35), Montenegro (26:41) and Iceland (19:25), as their record against European teams is hardly something that could bring the hopes up for the South American side. But coach Marizza Faria, the top scorer in history for Paraguay, will hope to motivate her side to get their heads up and provide the best performances in Germany, in some historic days for Paraguay.

Key players: Fernanda Insfran (right back), Maria Villalba (goalkeeper), Fatima Acuna (left wing)

History at the Olympic Games: -

Olympic Qualification Tournament #3 (in Neu-Ulm, Germany): Germany, Montenegro, Slovenia, Paraguay