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:
Preliminary round
Group A in Split
- Tuesday, 2 December:
- 41 - 18
- 32 - 25
- 28 - 25
- Wednesday, 3 December:
- 33 - 27
- 12 - 38
- 15 - 33
- Thursday, 4 December:
- 27 - 25
- 28 - 24
- 33 - 13
- Saturday, 6 December:
- 12 - 36
- 20 - 28
- 44 - 41
- Sunday, 7 December:
- 30 - 19
- 28 - 29
- 27 - 25
- Tuesday, 2 December:
- 28 - 27
- 46 - 16
- 29 - 19
- Wednesday, 3 December:
- 31 - 18
- 22 - 26
- 20 - 47
- Thursday, 4 December:
- 27 - 21
- 22 - 29
- 38 - 15
- Saturday, 6 December:
- 24 - 18
- 26 - 30
- 12 - 41
- Sunday, 7 December:
- 31 - 16
- 34 - 39
- 39 - 14
- Tuesday, 2 December:
- 30 - 24
- 29 - 30
- 43 - 13
- Wednesday, 3 December:
- 28 - 28
- 25 - 27
- 16 - 24
- Thursday, 4 December:
- 33 - 15
- 45 - 13
- 41 - 30
- Saturday, 6 December:
- 14 - 28
- 19 - 33
- 25 - 23
- Sunday, 7 December:
- 30 - 39
- 29 - 21
- 31 - 18
- Tuesday, 2 December:
- 43 - 25
- 34 - 26
- 20 - 20
- Wednesday, 3 December:
- 28 - 32
- 30 - 27
- 20 - 29
- Thursday, 4 December:
- 38 - 25
- 30 - 28
- 24 - 21
- Saturday, 6 December:
- 17 - 36
- 34 - 30
- 29 - 21
- Sunday, 7 December:
- 31 - 26
- 29 - 28
- 19 - 29
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
- Tuesday, 9 December:
- 27 - 26
- 31 - 27
- 25 - 27
- Wednesday, 10 December:
- 25 - 25
- 25 - 28
- 33 - 35
- Thursday, 11 December:
- 27 - 38
- 29 - 32
- 20 - 19
- Tuesday, 9 December:
- 31 - 30
- 27 - 30
- 26 - 25
- Wednesday, 10 December:
- 24 - 24
- 23 - 25
- 30 - 28
- Thursday, 11 December:
- 31 - 23
- 29 - 28
- 23 - 35
Final round
In Zagreb
Ranking and statistics
Final ranking
All Star Team
- Goalkeeper:
- Left wing:
- Left back:
- Pivot:
- Centre back:
- Right back:
- Right wing:
Top Goalkeepers
Top goalscorers
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
Literature
References