Brazil‘s Bruna de Paula Leads Resurgent National Team to Quarter-Final contention at World Championship
Hamburg, Germany – Bruna de Paula delivered a dominant performance as Brazil defeated Sweden, securing a crucial victory in the main round of the IHF Women’s World Championship and positioning the team for a potential quarter-final berth. The win marks a significant moment for Brazilian handball, showcasing a revitalized national program fueled by de Paula’s skill and leadership.
De Paula, a 29-year-old centre back, currently competing in her fifth World Championship wiht 88 goals scored in 29 matches, orchestrated Brazil’s attack with speed, creativity, and precision. The team’s success builds on a foundation of strong defense, reminiscent of the squad that won the Pan American Championship in 2023. Notably, de Paula now shares the court with veteran Alexandra do Nascimento, who has returned to the national team at the age of 44.
“What you see in our Instagram posts is what we are. It is the joy that we live, it is celebrating a win, it is celebrating who we are,” de Paula explained, highlighting the team’s close bond and celebratory spirit. “We showed resilience and we showed how good we can be.”
2024 has been a landmark year for de Paula, who secured her second EHF champions League Women title with Győri Audi ETO KC. The success extends to the men’s national team, which reached the quarter-finals of the IHF Men’s World championship for the first time in history.
“We all try to do our best and it is indeed really an honor to be here and provide such a joy for Brazil and to play so good. We are proud of what we achieved and we want to provide even better matches,so we can go even further in the competition,” de Paula stated.
Brazil currently trails Norway in Group IV of the main round, but holds a pleasant lead over Sweden. Upcoming matches against the Republic of Korea and Angola will be critical before a final showdown against the reigning Olympic champions. A win in their first two matches could secure a quarter-final appearance in Dortmund – a stage de Paula previously reached at Spain 2021, where Brazil lost to Denmark 25:30.
De Paula’s performance is inspiring a new generation of handball players in Brazil,embodying a playing style that mirrors the nation’s spirit: fast,passionate,and dazzling. “We are in a good mood and we want to get further in the competition,” she affirmed.
