China's women's beach handball team delivered a nail-biting performance at the 2025 Chengdu World Games on Thursday, overcoming Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic Group B opener. The match, held under clear skies at Chengdu’s newly built coastal arena, showcased the sport’s fast-paced intensity and strategic depth.
Beach handball’s unique format—two 10-minute sets with each set win earning a point—kept fans on edge. Croatia dominated the first set 20-13, but the Chinese squad rallied in the second period with agile defense and precision shots to level the score 1-1. The tiebreaker, a golden goal session featuring one-on-one duels, saw China clinch an 8-6 victory amid roaring cheers from local supporters.
"This win boosts our confidence for the next matches," said team captain Li Xia, reflecting on their comeback. China will face Argentina and Portugal in upcoming group-stage clashes, aiming to secure a knockout-round berth.
In men’s action, China fell 2-0 to Tunisia in their opening match, highlighting the competitive spirit across divisions at the global multisport event.
