Japan's women's handball team opened their Asian Games campaign with a commanding 40:14 victory over Vietnam at the 2026 tournament in Busan. The hosts established themselves at the top of the standings straight away, moving to four wins from four games played. Vietnam found themselves on the receiving end of a comprehensive performance on the opening day of competition.
The result reflects the gap between the sides, with Japan's attacking efficiency proving too much to handle. The hosts scored more than twice as many goals as their opponents, a margin that told the story of the match without needing minute-by-minute detail. The Vietnamese side struggled to find any rhythm against a disciplined Japanese defence.
This victory extends Japan's perfect record in the tournament so far. They sit level on eight points at the summit of Group A, though the standings are still early days. The team's form heading into the Games has been mixed, with a recent 27:31 defeat to Romania showing they can still lose when they switch off at the back. That result has clearly been taken on board.
Vietnam's position in the table remains to be seen, but this opening fixture sets a difficult tone for their campaign. They will need to improve significantly if they are to take anything from their remaining group matches. The hosts, by contrast, look well placed to advance to the knockout stages.
