THE BEST HANDBALL OF THE AMERICAS AT LIMA 2019

Handball will be the first team sport to be contested at the Pan American Games, on July 24. The best players of the Americas, many of whom have a successful career in Europe, will compete at the Sports Center 1 in VIDENA to reach the top of the podium in a discipline with sold-out tickets for the finals.

Women's will open the tournament aiming to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games two days before the Lima 2019 Opening Ceremony. Peru will make its debut against Dominican Republic on the first day of matches for Group B. Meanwhile, Argentina and Brazil (finalists in the Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015 Games) will be the main match of the evening. (See the women’s matches schedule.)

The Brazilian team will have Duda Amorim (left back) and Tamires de Araújo (pivot), both players of the powerful Hungarian League. As for the Argentinian team, it will have Elke Karsten (centre back), who excels in Hungary; as well as Manuela Pizzo (left back and champion of the Copa de España); and Luciana Mendoza (right back and player in the French league). The women’s competitions will take place from July 24 to 30.

The famous group of fans known as "Los Chapulines Brasileños", who dress up as the famous Mexican comedian, will be a colorful attraction at the Sports Center 1 in VIDENA. Tickets for the finals are sold out, but you have a chance to see these top Latin American athletes in the first round. Get your tickets at www.lima2019.pe/tickets and in all the authorized points of sale.

MEN’S COMPETITIONS

On the other hand, men's competitions will be held from July 31 to August 5, and will also feature the classic match between Brazil and Argentina. Both teams have players who excelled in this season’s Handball Champions League, the world's leading competition. In fact, the Brazilian pivot Rogério Moraes won with Vardar (Macedonia) and Thiagus Petrus (left back) excelled with Barcelona (Spain). The main figures in the Argentinian team are Diego, Pablo and Sebastián Simonet.

United States, Cuba, Argentina and Chile are in Group A. Peru, on the other hand, is in Group B with Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil, the tournament's favorite. The Peruvian team will make its debut against Puerto Rico, and Brazil against Mexico. As for the Argentine Gladiators, they will compete against the United States. (See the men’s matches schedule.)

RULES AT LIMA 2019

There will be a preliminary round with two groups of four teams each that will compete in a round-robin format. Then, the top two will qualify to semifinals, in which the first place will play with the second place of each group. The winning teams of semifinals play for the gold medal, while the losing teams play for the bronze.

The third- to fourth-place teams of each group will compete in the qualifying round for the fifth to eighth place. From semifinals, if there is a tie after the two regular halves of the match, two extra halves will be played. Only if scores are still tied, a penalty shootout will be played.

ABOUT LIMA 2019

The Opening Ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held at the National Stadium on July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6.648 athletes from 41 countries and official delegations from the Americas. There will be 19 days of competitions and ceremonies, between July 24 and August 11.

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will include 39 sports and 61 disciplines. A total of 22 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The most important sports figures will arrive in Lima, including world and Olympic champions.