The 25th IHF Women's U20 Junior World Championship is set to take place from June 24 to July 5 in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, marking the first time the prestigious event – the highest level of competition for the U20 women's handball category – will be hosted in China.

The championship will be held across four venues: Jinzhong City Sports Center, Shanxi Medical University's Zhongdu Campus Gymnasium, Jinzhong University Gymnasium, and Jinzhong Vocational and Technical College Gymnasium. 

Jinzhong unveils the championship's emblem and mascots. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

The event will bring together teams from 32 countries and regions across six continents, with approximately 960 athletes and coaches participating. Additionally, nearly 300 international and domestic technical officials will oversee over 100 high-level matches.

During a news conference on April 25, Jinzhong unveiled the championship's emblem and mascots. The mascots, named Tiantian and Meimei, are inspired by the North China leopard, a national first-class protected animal, symbolizing the city's charm and the spirit of youth sports.

Handball holds a significant place in Jinzhong's sports culture, and the city is recognized as a national base for Olympic handball talent development. Jinzhong has established a comprehensive talent cultivation system from kindergarten to higher education and has a solid track record of hosting national-level sports events.

Officials from Jinzhong have committed to enhancing the championship by showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage, exceptional services, and warm hospitality, aiming to deliver a distinctive, heartfelt, and high-caliber handball extravaganza.