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Host Japan pulls off upset in women's handball group play

The action was thrilling Tuesday in Olympic women's team handball at Yoyogi National Stadium. (Getty Images)

Far from a medal favorite, Japan pulled off a bit of a shocker in women's handball group play Tuesday at the Tokyo Games.

Making its first Olympic appearance since the 1989 Montreal Games, the host country edged "old continent" traditional powerhouse Montenegro, 29-26 in Group A action at Yoyogi National Stadium.

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Brazil, the 2019 Pan Am Games champion, got past Hungary 33-27 in an exciting Group B battle the second match of the session, and Sweden, coming off an impressive run through Olympic qualifying, closed things out with a 36-24 drubbing of the Russian Olympic Committee, also in Group B.