Japan’s men’s team and China’s women’s team secured gold medals at the Asian Championships in Zhaoqing, China.
The tournament also served as the continental qualification event for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore.
Both gold and silver medalists earned qualification spots. In the men’s competition, China finished as runners-up, while in the women’s tournament, Japan took silver.
Men’s Tournament
The men’s competition featured nine teams, split into two groups for the preliminary round. China topped Group A, while Japan led Group B. Four teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals, with Chinese Taipei the only team eliminated after finishing last in Group B.
Knockout Stage
The quarterfinals went as expected, with all top teams advancing comfortably. China, Japan, Iran, and Kazakhstan secured spots in the semifinals.
• Japan overpowered Kazakhstan 18:10 in the first semifinal.
• China and Iran played a thriller, tied at 9:9 after regular time. China held their nerves in the shootout, winning 13:10.
Final: Japan Secures Gold
The final between Japan and China was evenly matched, with the teams level at 10:10 after three quarters. However, Japan dominated the fourth period, pulling away for a 14:11 victory and the gold medal.
Bronze Medal Match: Kazakhstan Keeps Hope Alive
Kazakhstan and Iran battled for bronze, with the match ending 12:12 in regulation. Kazakhstan prevailed 16:14 in a penalty shootout, securing third place.
Kazakhstan still has an outside chance of qualifying for the World Championships—if Japan wins a medal at the World Cup final in Podgorica (April 2025), Kazakhstan will claim the final Asian qualification spot.
Men’s Results and Standings
Group Stage Standings
Group A:
1. China – 9 pts
2. Kazakhstan – 6 pts
3. Singapore – 3 pts
4. Hong Kong – 0 pts
Group B:
1. Japan – 12 pts
2. Iran – 9 pts
3. South Korea – 6 pts
4. Uzbekistan – 3 pts
5. Chinese Taipei – 0 pts
Knockout Round
Quarterfinals:
• Kazakhstan – South Korea 22:9
• Iran – Singapore 14:7
• China – Uzbekistan 37:5
• Japan – Hong Kong 27:7
Semifinals:
• Japan – Kazakhstan 18:10
• China – Iran 13:10 (9:9)
Final:
• Japan – China 14:11
Bronze Medal Match:
• Kazakhstan – Iran 16:14 (12:12)
Final Standings
1. Japan (Gold, qualified for World Championships)
2. China (Silver, qualified for World Championships)
3. Kazakhstan
4. Iran
5. South Korea
6. Singapore
7. Hong Kong
8. Uzbekistan
9. Chinese Taipei
Women’s Tournament
The women’s event featured six teams in a round-robin format, with no knockout rounds.
As expected, China and Japan dominated, winning all their early matches. Their final-day showdown decided the champion.
Final Showdown: China Wins in a Shootout
The gold medal match was a thriller, with both teams level at 13:13 after regular time. In a dramatic penalty shootout, China edged Japan 18:17 to secure gold.
Final Standings
1. China – 14 pts (Gold, qualified for World Championships)
2. Japan – 13 pts (Silver, qualified for World Championships)
3. Kazakhstan – 9 pts
4. Singapore – 6 pts
5. Uzbekistan
6. Hong Kong
Japan’s men and China’s women now look ahead to the World Championships in Singapore, while Kazakhstan remains hopeful of an extra qualification spot.