Handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The women's handball tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics is being held from August 9 to August 23, at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium and National Indoor Stadium in Beijing. Twelve nations are represented in the women's tournament.

The four best teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinal round, 5th and 6th teams in each group are classified 9th-12th by the results of their group matches. The losers of quarterfinal matches will compete in the 5th-8th classification matches by the same elimination system as the winners of the quarterfinals. Three time consecutive defending Champion Denmark were not part of the 2008 Olympics Handball Tournament, as they did not qualify from the 2007 World Women's Handball Championship.

Qualification
Olympic Qualifying Tournaments:
 * Tournament I:
 * Worlds 3rd:
 * Worlds 9th:
 * Europe:
 * Pan-America:
 * Tournament II:
 * Worlds 4th:
 * Worlds 8th:
 * Asia:
 * Top continent at the Worlds (Europe):
 * Tournament III:
 * Worlds 5th:
 * Worlds 6th:
 * Africa:
 * 2nd continent at the Worlds (Asia):

Seeding
The draw for the groups was held 16 June 2008.

Group A
















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Group B
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Medal Round
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8)

Quarterfinals
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Classification
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Semifinals
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7th–8th place
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5th–6th place
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Bronze medal match
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Gold medal match
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All Star Team
Chosen by team officials and IHF experts: IHF.info
 * Goalkeeper: 🇳🇴 Katrine Lunde Haraldsen
 * Left wing:  🇭🇺 Orsolya Vérten
 * Left back:  🇷🇺 Liudmila Postnova
 * Centre back: 🇰🇷 Oh Seong-Ok
 * Right back: 🇷🇺 Irina Bliznova
 * Right wing: 🇷🇴 Ramona Maier
 * Line player/pivot: 🇳🇴 Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk