France's Women's Handball Team Clinches Bronze at 2025 World Championship

The French women's handball team secured a thrilling bronze medal at the 2025 World Championship by narrowly defeating the Netherlands 33-31 after extra time. This victory, celebrated on December 14, 2025, marked a significant achievement for a new generation of French players, including the promising 20-year-old Fatou Karamoko, who celebrated her birthday on the day of the win.

Coach Sébastien Gardillou praised the team's resilience and strong character throughout the tournament, especially given that they were missing five key players due to maternity leave and injuries. Despite these challenges, the squad maintained their consistent international form, reaching the last four of a major tournament for the eighth consecutive time.

One standout performer was Sarah Bouktit, who finished as the French team's top scorer in the tournament with an impressive 86% shooting accuracy, underlining her critical contribution to the team's success. The bronze medal match also served as a form of redemption for France after a prior loss to the Netherlands in the main round of the championship.

Although France could not defend their title after falling to Germany in the semifinals, the victory against the Netherlands delivered an encouraging signal about the team's development trajectory. Gardillou highlighted the squad’s potential and called attention to the young talents who bode well for the future of French women’s handball.

This achievement was also noted within the broader scope of French sports performances recently, underscoring France's competitive prowess on the international stage. The team’s bronze medal victory adds to France’s proud sporting tradition and sets a positive tone as they look forward to upcoming championships.