Japan's women's handball team secured a 39-24 victory over Kazakhstan at the Asian Games on 25 September 2026. The result keeps Japan top of their group with a flawless run so far. Kazakhstan, playing at home, finished fourth in the standings with four points from four matches.
Before the match, Japan sat at the summit with eight points from four wins. Kazakhstan had drawn twice and won twice to reach fourth place. The gap between them was already clear on paper. Japan had not dropped points all tournament.
The visitors were dominant throughout. They scored 39 goals while the hosts managed 24. Japan's recent results showed no sign of slowing — they had beaten China 33-27 two days earlier. They kept their heads and let the game flow in their favour.
Kazakhstan's home crowd never stopped, but the result did not change. Their last five matches showed a mix of results — wins against Hong Kong and Vietnam, losses to South Korea and China. They had beaten Iran in December 2025. By then, the tournament was just beginning.
The win takes Japan to eight points, still leading the table. Kazakhstan remain fourth with four points. The result means Japan have nothing to lose in their remaining games. Kazakhstan will need to improve if they want to close the gap.
