Handball
Handball is a team game for up to seven players a side on court; a goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. The goal area, inside the 6-metre line, belongs to the goalkeeper; court players may jump from outside it and shoot in the air. A match is two halves of 30 minutes.
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How long
Two halves of 30 minutes, with a 10-minute break
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Olympic Games (handball)The title handball is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: Men's: Denmark · Women's: Norway
- 2IHF World ChampionshipThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years · Holder: Men: Croatia
- 3Asian Games (handball)Asia's multi-sport title; for India often the most reachable major medal.Every 4 years · Holder: Bahrain, South Korea
India
- Handball at the Olympic Games: No medal
- IHF World Handball Championship (men and women): No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- FranceHandball at the Olympic Games: 4 golds, 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2024); IHF World Handball Championship (men and women): 9 golds, 6 silvers, 6 bronzes (latest 2025)
- DenmarkHandball at the Olympic Games: 5 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2024); IHF World Handball Championship (men and women): 5 golds, 5 silvers, 5 bronzes (latest 2025)
- South KoreaHandball at the Olympic Games: 2 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2008); Handball at the Asian Games: 14 golds, 2 silvers, 3 bronzes (latest 2026)
- NorwayHandball at the Olympic Games: 3 golds, 2 silvers, 3 bronzes (latest 2024); IHF World Handball Championship (men and women): 5 golds, 7 silvers, 3 bronzes (latest 2025)
- Soviet UnionHandball at the Olympic Games: 4 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 1988); IHF World Handball Championship (men and women): 4 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 1990)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Handball Federation (IHF), Rules of the Game: Indoor Handball, edition of 1 July 2025 |
| International federation | International Handball Federation (IHF) |
| In India | Disputed between the Handball Federation of India (founded 1971) and the Handball Association of India (registered 2022). MYAS recognised the Association in 2023 and a High Court stayed that; the court referred the dispute to the IOA in September 2025. On 9 October 2026 the IHF wrote to the IOA that it treats the Association as its sole Indian member and the matter as closed |
The IHF backs the Handball Association of India, but the Indian court and IOA process is not shown to be closed; a published page should say the Indian body is disputed (FC section 6).
Where and when it is played
Indoors on a court with a goal and a goal area at each end. The big events: the Olympic Games every four years and the IHF World Championship every two years.