By Paul Osborne

Brazil have won the 2013 Womens World Handball Championships @Getty ImagesDecember 22 - Brazil have become just the second ever non-European team to win the Women's World Handball Championships with victory over hosts Serbia in Belgrade.


In front of a record 19,467 crowd, the South Americans fought off a valiant Serbian comeback to edge the match 22-20 and claim their first Championship gold medal and the first for any South American country.

With Rio 2016 on the horizon the result could be particularly significant, although it will inevitably heap extra pressure on the Brazilian team. 

The first half saw the momentum swing from side to side on numerous occasions as Brazil took an early 3-1 lead only for the hosts to take control of the match and pull 8-6 ahead.

Brazil then stepped through the gears to lead 13-10, with a late goal from Serbia leaving the half time score at 13-11.

An impressive start to the second period saw Brazil increase their lead to 16-11 however a remarkable comeback saw the hosts pull the game level at 20-20 with just two minute of the game remaining.

The Brazilian team held their nerve in this late stage of the match and goals from Dragana Cvijić and Ana Paula Rodrigues Belo ensured a top spot on the podium for the South American side.

Brazil become the first South American and only second non-European team to win the title ©IHFBrazil become the first South American and only second non-European team to win the title ©Getty Images



The final, played at the Kombank Arena, was a first for both teams with previous best results of fifth and third for Brazil and Serbia respectively.

Coming into the final, Serbia, to the delight of their home support, had knocked out reigning world and Olympic champions Norway, making it the first semi-final of a major competition the Norwegians had missed since 2005.

Brazil, who were the only non-European team to reach the quarter finals, continued their unbeaten run from the preliminary round to overcome 2012 European Championship silver medallists Hungary.

The semi finals saw Serbia triumph over Poland and Brazil beat Denmark, with the latter going on to win the third-place play off and end a World Championship medal draught which had seen the Danes miss out on silverware for the past 16 years.

The World Championships will now travel to Denmark in 2015 following the International Handball Federation's (IHF) decision in January 2011.

From there they move to Germany in 2017 and Japan in 2019.

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