Denmark's Mikkel Hansen scored 10 goals as Denmark begun their campaign for a third consecutive title at the IHF Men's World Championship ©Getty Images

Denmark begun their campaign for a third consecutive title in the International Handball Federation (IHF) Men's World Championship in emphatic fashion with a 43-28 win over debutants Belgium at the Malmö Arena.

The 2019 and 2021 winners enjoyed a comfortable start in Group H with three-time IHF World Player of the Year Mikkel Hansen scoring 10 goals.

Belgium was within one goal of Denmark after 12 minutes, but the champions class told the longer the match went on.

In Malmö, which is about 15 kilometres across the Øresund from Copenhagen, the world champions must have felt like at home, enjoying the vocal support of their numerous fans in the crowd of 12,426.

In the opening match of Group, Arab rivals Bahrain and Tunisia played out a 27-27 draw.

Ahmed Jalal scored 10 for Bahrain, while Issam Rzig responded with eight for Tunisia.

In Poland, Group F started with The Netherlands beat Pan American champions Argentina 29-19 at Tauron Arena in Kraków, Kay Smits top-scoring with seven goals.

That was followed by Norway, the World Championship runners-up in 2017 and 2019, beating North Macedonia 39-27.

In Group E at the Spodek in Katowice, Germany launched their challenge with a 31-27 victory against Qatar, with Serbia defeating Algeria 36-27.

The second round of matches is due to start tomorrow with co-hosts Poland playing Slovenia in a must-win match following the defeat in their opening match of the tournament against Olympic champions France.

France will book their place in the main round if they beat Saudi Arabia, who lost 33-19 to Slovenia in their first game.