Women’s handball: Poland fall short of world championship quarterfinals

Poland were eliminated from contention for the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Women’s Handball Championship after a 22-33 loss to host nation the Netherlands in the main round on Saturday in Rotterdam.

Poland's Natalia Pankowska (right) in action against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Saturday.

Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

Poland had defeated Argentina 28-25 in their previous main-round match, but Saturday's defeat ended their chances of reaching the knockout stage. 

Polska przegrywa z Holandią. Biało-Czerwone bez szans na ćwierćfinał MŚhttps://t.co/kMdmP6y3qH

— Sport PolskieRadio24.pl (@sport_pr24pl) December 6, 2025

The Polish team, coached by Norwegian Arne Senstad, will face Austria in their final main-round game on Monday.

Jeszcze dziś potrzebujemy Waszego wsparcia!

🇵🇱 Polska - 🇦🇹 Austria
📅 8 grudnia, godz. 18:00
📺 TVP 2
💻 Transmisja i studio: https://t.co/pxmfPmsIqe@TeamORLEN pic.twitter.com/i95HuhdSG5

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) December 8, 2025

Thirty-two teams, including defending champions France, are competing in the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the Netherlands and Germany and runs until December 14.

Tak aktualnie prezentuje się tabela rundy głównej Mistrzostw Świata ⤵️@TeamORLEN pic.twitter.com/MIzeVk86LT

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) December 7, 2025

Poland also failed to advance to the quarterfinals at the 2023 World Women’s Handball Championship, co-hosted by Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

🇵🇱🇳🇱

Fot. ZPRP/Paweł Bejnarowicz@TeamORLEN pic.twitter.com/dGBpPicBeQ

— Handball Polska (@handballpolska) December 6, 2025

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, polskieradio24.pl