World 16th ranked Slovakia started better, establishing a comfortable early lead before Thailand, 11 places lower in the world rankings, managed to find the pace of the match. Using their female players most effectively, particularly Ema Ondrejcova who scored five, Slovakia asserted themselves and managed to hold their less experienced rivals at arm’s-length. While Thailand defended well, they struggled to score at the same rate as Slovakia, which prevailed by 23-14.

Hong Kong China does not enjoy a physical advantage over many teams at this tournament. However, playing Japan they did, and were able to use it in this match, controlling the game by owning the rebound and forcing the Japanese players to take inferior feed positions. For Hong Kong China Ka Ho Chow was the focus for goals, scoring six, while Yu Furuki’s five made him top Japan scored five. Mindful of his team’s chance to challenge for a higher placing, Hong Kong China coach Warman Cheng rotated his squad in the second half, coasting to a 22-10 scoreline.

In a rematch between two teams that played each other on Saturday, the first half was very even. New Zealand suffered a blow when captain Youri Borrink had to withdraw with a knee injury after 15 minutes. Teenager Zara Sadler and hot shot Torsten Ball were their first half go to scoring machines, while for Ireland Chelsie Browne, Lizzie Tighe and Daisy Tighe made the most impact. Both teams continued to trade goals through the third quarter, as coach Bevan Lawson went to his bench, looking for options to break open the match. Browne scored two smart free passes to keep Ireland in it, and they briefly took the lead after 36 minutes. However, New Zealand struck straight back, before Michelle Tapp managed to edge them into the lead with a minute left, Ireland not quite able to peg it back one final time: 13-12 in favour of New Zealand.

Having made a reasonable contest of the first quarter, with their rebound defence working well, India lost touch with Türkiye after that and only managed to score one goal in the last 22 minutes. Türkiye’s athleticism and shooting accuracy, even with the usually hot hands of Inanc Demirel kept in reserve until the 27th minute, proved too much as India’s lack of experience after their long period in the international korfball wilderness, which finally ended last year, was shown up today. Final score: 19-6, meaning Türkiye remains on track for the 13th and 14th play off.

At this stage of the tournament teams that have not taken sufficient care of their fitness, and rotated court time through all squad members will struggle. This was the case for Slovakia, who did not have enough energy to stay with Hong Kong China in a match where the prize was the right to fight for 13th place. Although Slovakia struggled from midway through the second quarter, Hong Kong China kept scoring at a steady rate, goals shared evenly through the team, though Pok Ho Chong top scored with four. Hong Kong China are now set to improve their IKF 15th place ranking by at least one position, winning by 21-10.

Most of the way through the first half there was little between the two teams. Making her first start for New Zealand, teenager Tayla Hardy showed early what her hot hands can do, while for Türkiye sharp shooter Inanc Demirel was again to the fore. Shortly before half time Türkiye extended their advantage, though in the third quarter defence dominated at both ends, and only two goals went in, both to Türkiye. While the the score started moving again in the fourth quarter, Türkiye was too far ahead, a final score of 19-12 setting them up to fight for 13th place, and a significant move up from their 22nd place in the IKF rankings.

Initially it appeared that Thailand would comfortably take this game away from their Asian rival, though a run of goals from Ren Nagai and Yu Furuki put Japan back on track to keep it close. By half time Thailand had re-established a four goal lead. Although Japan threatened that, particularly towards the end of the match, they were unable to breach it, and time ran out. Thailand, with top scorer Pitchapa Manoyut scoring six, claimed the victory by 17-15, go on to fight for 17th place, and will usurp Japan in the rankings as a consequence.

A close match until the final quarter, when Ireland finally managed to break free of India’s dynamic, athletic and robust style. Chelsie Browne has been deadly accurate in this tournament, particularly from the free pass stripe, as she was again for Ireland today. India’s female players scored the bulk of their goals, with Kumari Tammana and Kummankattil Shilpa scoring four each, including plenty of running in shots. Terry Forde had the satisfaction of a mighty buzzer beater to end the game, taking Ireland out to 24-18, and a shot at for 17th place tomorrow.

When these two teams met in a ranking match at the 2022 Asia Oceania Korfball Championship, India won to secure fifth place that day, the second time the two met at that tournament for the same result. Today the prize was the 19th place in the WKC, the position Japan sits in the current IKF ranking. While India took a first quarter lead, Japan stayed in touch through free passes and penalties from Yu Furuki and Yuki Anzai. As the match wore on, India’s presence in the rebound started to pay dividends, Sharma Vishal and Nitesh effective as ever. Balvinder Kaur scored immediately after coming on to establish a four goal lead for her team, only for Japan to strike straight back. India extended their lead, taking the game out of Japan’s reach for a 21-14 final score, meaning India finishes a place ahead of Japan, and will likely climb the IKF rankings from their previous 23rd position.

These two teams played each other four days ago when Ireland prevailed in a close, low scoring match. Today they met to settle the 17th placing at this WKC. Working the ball around deliberately, and patient with their shot selection, Ireland managed to build a slim half time lead, with Lizzie Tighe and Chelsie Browne the focal points of their attack at each end. For Thailand the scoring was spread around. Without totally dominating, Ireland made their experience count and by the end were ahead by 13-9, placing 17th here, compared to their 18th place in the IKF rankings. Thailand meanwhile stand to improve several places on their current 28th place IKF ranking.

Both teams looked short of fitness in their previous matches, fading against opponents who were conserving their energy better, suggesting this might be a contest of attrition: who could stand longest. New Zealand established an early three goal lead, then their momentum stopped as Slovakia made up the difference, going to half time with a one goal advantage. Despite a series of half time substitutes, as New Zealand missed two penalties only four goals went in during the third quarter, three to Slovakia, extending their lead. With Slovakia’s extra experience that was enough, and they kept New Zealand at bay to end up on the right end of a 17-11 scoreline, top scorer Zuzana Busikova with six, and the 15th placing to Slovakia, one higher than their IKF ranking.

This was a repeat of the WKC’s only golden goal match so far, a thriller won by Hong Kong China on the second day. That is in the past though, as both teams were aiming for the higher ranking place, both looking relatively fresh after such a physically challenging event. While Hong Kong China started well and took the lead, Türkiye stepped up and this time their rebound based strategy around their tall male players was more effective. Holding a slender lead for most of the rest of the match, Gulash Dalar leading the scoring with five, Türkiye was able to pull away at the end: Hong Kong China stopped scoring after 34 minutes, while Türkiye carried on. With a final score of 16-13, Türkiye will be satisfied with their first WKC appearance, reversing their previous loss against their Asian opponent, and securing the 13th placing.