Croatia’s senior women’s handball team lost 19:25 to Japan in Group A matchday 3 at the 2025 World Championship, eliminated from the main round and heading to the historic President’s Cup debut.
Croatia started strong with Tina Barišić’s early goals for a 5:3 lead, but Japan tied 10:10 at halftime despite Croatia’s 45% shooting and two missed penalties. Sakura Kametani’s 15 saves (47%) and Natsuki Aizawa’s 8 goals powered Japan’s second-half surge, including a 7-on-6 tactic that built an 11:15 edge; Croatia managed just 9 goals post-break.
No Croat exceeded 3 goals (Barišić and Andrea Šimara with 3 each); Lucija Bešen had 4 saves. Japan shot 67% efficiently, overcoming 5 more turnovers.
Croatia (0-3) faces Uruguay, Paraguay, and Iran in the 25th-32nd place fight; IHF schedules follow all matches.
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