# 2003 World Women's Handball Championship

The 2003 World Women's Handball Championship, the 16th handball world championship for women, was played in Croatia between 2 and 14 December 2003.
France won their first ever title, beating Hungary in the final.

## Qualification

The following nations were qualified:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Australia | Angola | Argentina | China |
| Brazil | Austria | Japan | Ivory Coast |
| Croatia | Czech Republic | Norway | Denmark |
| Spain | South Korea | Romania | Germany |
| France | Russia | Tunisia | Hungary |
| Serbia and Montenegro | Uruguay | Ukraine | Slovenia |

## Preliminary round
### Group A in Split

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 98 | +51 | 10 | Main Round |
| 2 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 150 | 120 | +30 | 8 | Main Round |
| 3 | Serbia and Montenegro | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 143 | +22 | 6 | Main Round |
| 4 | Croatia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 142 | 122 | +20 | 4 | |
| 5 | Brazil | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 136 | 155 | −19 | 2 | |
| 6 | Australia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 74 | 178 | −104 | 0 | |
* Tuesday, 2 December:
** Serbia and Montenegro 41 - 18 Australia
** Croatia 32 - 25 Brazil
** France 28 - 25 Spain
* Wednesday, 3 December:
** Spain 33 - 27 Serbia and Montenegro
** Australia 12 - 38 Croatia
** Brazil 15 - 33 France
* Thursday, 4 December:
** Spain 27 - 25 Brazil
** Serbia and Montenegro 28 - 24 Croatia
** France 33 - 13 Australia
* Saturday, 6 December:
** Australia 12 - 36 Spain
** Croatia 20 - 28 France
** Serbia and Montenegro 44 - 41 Brazil
* Sunday, 7 December:
** Brazil 30 - 19 Australia
** Croatia 28 - 29 Spain
** France 27 - 25 Serbia and Montenegro

### Group B in Poreč

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Russia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 106 | +47 | 10 | Main Round |
| 2 | South Korea | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 165 | 113 | +52 | 8 | Main Round |
| 3 | Austria | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 130 | +35 | 6 | Main Round |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 126 | 125 | +1 | 4 | |
| 5 | Angola | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 119 | 120 | −1 | 2 | |
| 6 | Uruguay | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 77 | 211 | −134 | 0 | |
* Tuesday, 2 December:
** Russia 28 - 27 South Korea
** Czech Republic 46 - 16 Uruguay
** Austria 29 - 19 Angola
* Wednesday, 3 December:
** South Korea 31 - 18 Czech Republic
** Angola 22 - 26 Russia
** Uruguay 20 - 47 Austria
* Thursday, 4 December:
** South Korea 27 - 21 Angola
** Czech Republic 22 - 29 Austria
** Russia 38 - 15 Uruguay
* Saturday, 6 December:
** Czech Republic 24 - 18 Angola
** Austria 26 - 30 Russia
** Uruguay 12 - 41 South Korea
* Sunday, 7 December:
** Russia 31 - 16 Czech Republic
** Austria 34 - 39 South Korea
** Angola 39 - 14 Uruguay

### Group C in Karlovac

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ukraine | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 158 | 116 | +42 | 9 | Main Round |
| 2 | Norway | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 163 | 108 | +55 | 8 | Main Round |
| 3 | Romania | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 158 | 123 | +35 | 7 | Main Round |
| 4 | Japan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 133 | 153 | −20 | 4 | |
| 5 | Tunisia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 118 | 133 | −15 | 2 | |
| 6 | Argentina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 74 | 171 | −97 | 0 | |
* Tuesday, 2 December:
** Japan 30 - 24 Tunisia
** Norway 29 - 30 Ukraine
** Romania 43 - 13 Argentina
* Wednesday, 3 December:
** Ukraine 28 - 28 Romania
** Tunisia 25 - 27 Norway
** Argentina 16 - 24 Japan
* Thursday, 4 December:
** Ukraine 33 - 15 Tunisia
** Norway 45 - 13 Argentina
** Romania 41 - 30 Japan
* Saturday, 6 December:
** Argentina 14 - 28 Ukraine
** Japan 19 - 33 Norway
** Romania 25 - 23 Tunisia
* Sunday, 7 December:
** Japan 30 - 39 Ukraine
** Norway 29 - 21 Romania
** Tunisia 31 - 18 Argentina

### Group D in Čakovec

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hungary | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 171 | 129 | +42 | 8 | Main Round |
| 2 | Slovenia | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 149 | 141 | +8 | 8 | Main Round |
| 3 | Germany | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 144 | 121 | +23 | 7 | Main Round |
| 4 | Denmark | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 119 | −6 | 5 | |
| 5 | China | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 135 | 153 | −18 | 2 | |
| 6 | Ivory Coast | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 117 | 166 | −49 | 0 | |
* Tuesday, 2 December:
** Hungary 43 - 25 Ivory Coast
** Slovenia 34 - 26 China
** Denmark 20 - 20 Germany
* Wednesday, 3 December:
** Ivory Coast 28 - 32 Slovenia
** Germany 30 - 27 Hungary
** China 20 - 29 Denmark
* Thursday, 4 December:
** Hungary 38 - 25 Slovenia
** Germany 30 - 28 China
** Denmark 24 - 21 Ivory Coast
* Saturday, 6 December:
** Ivory Coast 17 - 36 Germany
** Hungary 34 - 30 China
** Slovenia 29 - 21 Denmark
* Sunday, 7 December:
** China 31 - 26 Ivory Coast
** Slovenia 29 - 28 Germany
** Denmark 19 - 29 Hungary

## Main Round

Top two teams from each group advanced to the Semifinals. The third placed teams from each group competed in the 5th/6th placement match.

### Group I

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 121 | +7 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 2 | South Korea | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 158 | 151 | +7 | 6 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Spain | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 139 | 138 | +1 | 5 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Russia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 129 | 129 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5 | Serbia and Montenegro | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 145 | 158 | −13 | 4 | |
| 6 | Austria | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 149 | 151 | −2 | 2 | |
* Tuesday, 9 December:
** Spain 27 - 26 Austria
** Serbia and Montenegro 31 - 27 Russia
** France 25 - 27 South Korea
* Wednesday, 10 December:
** Russia 25 - 25 Spain
** Austria 25 - 28 France
** South Korea 33 - 35 Serbia and Montenegro
* Thursday, 11 December:
** Serbia and Montenegro 27 - 38 Austria
** Spain 29 - 32 South Korea
** France 20 - 19 Russia

### Group II in Rijeka

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hungary | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 154 | 129 | +25 | 7 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Ukraine | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 132 | 140 | −8 | 7 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Norway | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 142 | 133 | +9 | 7 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Slovenia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 149 | −12 | 4 | |
| 5 | Romania | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 135 | 140 | −5 | 3 | |
| 6 | Germany | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 134 | 143 | −9 | 2 | |
* Tuesday, 9 December:
** Norway 31 - 30 Germany
** Romania 27 - 30 Hungary
** Ukraine 26 - 25 Slovenia
* Wednesday, 10 December:
** Hungary 24 - 24 Norway
** Germany 23 - 25 Ukraine
** Slovenia 30 - 28 Romania
* Thursday, 11 December:
** Romania 31 - 23 Germany
** Norway 29 - 28 Slovenia
** Ukraine 23 - 35 Hungary

## Final round

In Zagreb
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| 13 December - 16:00 | 13 December - 16:00 |
| France | 28 |
| France | 28 | 14 December - 19:15 | 14 December - 19:15 |
| Ukraine | 26 | 14 December - 19:15 | 14 December - 19:15 |
| Ukraine | 26 | France (ET) | 32 |
| 13 December - 19:15 | 13 December - 19:15 | | France (ET) | 32 |
| 13 December - 19:15 | 13 December - 19:15 | Hungary | 29 |
| Hungary | 40 | Hungary | 29 |
| South Korea | 38 | | |
| South Korea | 38 | Bronze Match | Bronze Match |
| | | 14 December - 16:00 | 14 December - 16:00 |
| | | Ukraine | 29 |
| | | South Korea | 31 |
| 5th/6th place | 5th/6th place | 5th/6th place |
| 1 | Spain | 27 |
| 2 | Norway | 26 |

## Ranking and statistics
### Top Goalkeepers

| Rank | Name | Team | % | Saves | Shots |
| 1 | Joanne Dudziak | France | 47% | 57 | 122 |
| 2 | Heidi Tjugum | Norway | 46% | 66 | 145 |
| 3 | Cecilie Leganger | Norway | 43% | 89 | 207 |
| 3 | Lene Rantala | Denmark | 43% | 21 | 49 |
| 5 | Katalin Pálinger | Hungary | 42% | 141 | 336 |
| 6 | Tatiana Alizar | Russia | 41% | 58 | 141 |
| 7 | Ildiko Barbu | Romania | 40% | 34 | 84 |
| 7 | Irina Sirina | Hungary | 40% | 30 | 75 |
| 9 | Luminita Dinu | Romania | 39% | 93 | 239 |
| 9 | Valérie Nicolas | France | 39% | 103 | 262 |

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Team | Goals | Shots | % |
| 1 | Bojana Radulović | Hungary | 97 | 170 | 57% |
| 2 | Olena Tsyhytsia | Ukraine | 66 | 120 | 55% |
| 3 | Bojana Petrović | Serbia and Montenegro | 58 | 104 | 56% |
| 4 | Susana Fraile Celaya | Spain | 50 | 116 | 43% |
| 5 | Zsuzsanna Lovasz | Hungary | 48 | 68 | 71% |
| 6 | Montserrat Puche Díaz | Spain | 47 | 84 | 56% |
| 7 | Grit Jurack | Germany | 46 | 90 | 51% |
| 8 | Woo Sun-Hee | South Korea | 45 | 75 | 60% |
| 9 | Ausra Fridrikas | Austria | 45 | 82 | 55% |
| 10 | Elodie Mambo | Ivory Coast | 43 | 86 | 50% |

### Statistics

The total average number of shots and throws taken in the preliminary round was 51.79 with a shot efficacy of 52.46%. The greatest efficacy was acquired by shots at the goal line (70%). Teams won on average 4.58 penalty (7m) throws. The winning teams took on average 3.55 shots more that the defeated teams. Defeated teams were also 17.98% less efficient than the winning ones, not only in goal-scoring but also in number and efficacy of the fast breaks and assists.

## Medalists

| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| France Stéphanie CanoJoanne DudziakMyriame Said MohamedIsabelle Cendier AjaguinSophie HerbrechtEstelle VogeinLeila LejeuneIsabelle WendlingSandrine DelerceMyriam Borg-KorfantyMélinda Jacques-SzaboStéphanie LudwigNodjialem MyaroValérie NicolasVéronique Pecqueux-RollandRaphaëlle Tervel Head coach : Mr. Olivier Krumbholz | Hungary Irina SirinaBernadett FerlingBeáta BohusIbolya MehlmannErika KirsnerHortenzia SzrnkaBojana RadulovicsKrisztina PigniczkiÁgnes FarkasTímea SugárAnita GörbiczEszter SitiKatalin PálingerTímea TóthZsuzsanna LovászAnita Kulcsár Head coach : Mr. Lajos Mocsai | South KoreaOh Yong-ranWoo Sun-heeHuh Soon-youngLee Gong-jooJang So-heeKim Cha-younOh Seong-okHuh Young-sookMoon Kyeong-haLim O-kyeongPark Jung-heeLee Sang-eunLee Min-heeMyoung Bok-heeChoi Im-jeongMoon Pil-hee Head coach : ? |

## Literature

* Ohnjec, Katarina; Vuleta, Dinko; Milanović, Dragan; Gruić, Igor (2008). "Performance indicators of teams at the 2003 World handball championship for women in Croatia" (PDF). Kinesiology. 40 (1): 69-79. ISSN 1331-1441.