Handball-Defending champions France edge past Sweden to reach women's final

LILLE, France : Defending champions France squeezed past Sweden with a nail-biting 31-28 overtime victory on Thursday to reach the final of the women's Olympic handball tournament.

The 2023 world champions rallied from a four-goal deficit in the second half and turned the screw in extra time as Sweden, chasing their first women's Olympic medal in the discipline, lost their composure.

Olivier Krumbholz's side, 21-17 down with 15 minutes left, opened a three-point lead in overtime in a boiling-hot Pierre Mauroy stadium.

France will face either Denmark or world championships runners-up Norway for the gold medal on Saturday - their third consecutive Olympic final.

(Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Alison Williams)