2023 IKF World Korfball Championship

2023 IKF World Korfball Championship
Tournament details
Host countryTaiwan
Dates20–29 October 2023
Teams24
Venue(s)Taipei Gymnasium[1]
Final positions
Champions Netherlands (11th title)
Runners-up Chinese Taipei
Third place Belgium
Fourth place Czech Republic
Tournament statistics
Matches played82
Goals scored2,780 (33.9 per match)
Top scorer(s)Netherlands Fleur Hoek
(33 goals)[2]
← 2019
2027 →

The 12th IKF World Korfball Championship was held in Taipei, Taiwan.[3] It was the first time in the history of the IKF World Korfball Championship, the final wasn't played between Belgium and the Netherlands. The International Korfball Federation awarded the hosting rights for the tournament to Taiwan on 9 August 2019, ahead of the bids of Czech Republic and the Netherlands. The Netherlands was awarded the hosting rights for the 2027 IKF World Korfball Championship instead.[4]

In November 2022, the number of teams participating was increased from 20 to 24. The Americas are now allotted 2 spots, Africa 2 spots, Europe 12 spots, and Asia and Oceania 7 spots (in addition to the host country), among which at least one Oceanian country. (with a minimum of 1 for Oceania).[5] Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Turkey are making their debut in the tournament.

The tournament also serves as the only qualification event for the 2025 World Games, with eight qualification places available. The IKF framework aims at having 4 continents representing Korfball at the TWG 2025 out of the five continents represented in the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship – Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania. To make this happen, participants from 4 continents should finish in the top-11 at the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship. To determine the teams qualifying, IKF set out a series of rules:

  1. All qualified teams for the 2025 World Games must participate in the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship
  2. As host of the 2025 World Games, China must be ranked in top 13 at the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship to guarantee the qualification as host of the 2025 World Games. If China does not finish in top 13 of the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship, a wildcard will be given to be decided by IKF Council vote, taking the interest of quality of the competition, global representation, and marketing impact into account.
  3. If the top 8 ranking, including China, consists of participants of at least 4 continents the top 8 will qualify directly.
  4. If four continents are represented in the Top 11 then:
    1. China qualifies (if in top 13) but does not count on behalf of Asia
    2. If China does not finish in top 13 of the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship, a wildcard will be given to be decided by IKF Council vote
    3. Considering only Top 11 teams, the highest ranked team from each continent qualify
    4. Starting with the highest ranked team and descending, teams who have not qualified via the steps above are then added until eight places are filled
  5. If three or two continents are represented in the Top 11 then:
    1. China qualifies (if in top 13) but does not count on behalf of Asia
    2. If China does not finish in top 13 of the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship, a wildcard will be given to be decided by IKF Council vote
    3. Considering only Top 11 teams, the highest ranked team from each of those continents qualifies
    4. Starting with the highest ranked team and descending, teams who have not qualified via the steps above are then added until eight places are filled
  6. If only one continent is represented in the Top 11 then:
    1. China qualifies (if in top 13) but does not count on behalf of Asia
    2. If China does not finish in top 13 of the 2023 IKF World Korfball Championship, a wildcard will be given to be decided by IKF Council vote
    3. Starting with the highest ranked team and descending, teams who have not qualified via the step above are then added until eight places are filled
  1. ^ "合球／世錦賽10月台北開戰 中華隊拚留金盃" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). United Daily News. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Top scorers IKF World Korfball Championship (IKF WKC)". IKF. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ^ 黃, 巧雯. "合球世錦賽10月台北登場 台灣隊力拚留下冠軍". CNA. 中央通訊社. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ^ "IKF WKC 2023 bidding status". International Korfball Federation. 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  5. ^ "IKF Council decides to host 24 teams next year in Taipei: Hungary and Slovakia join earlier qualified teams from Europe". International Korfball Federation. 27 November 2022.