Bulgaria secures Women’s Challenge Trophy title

From Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 March the Bulgarian cities of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo hosted the IHF/EHF Women’s Challenge Trophy 2012.

With Armenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Israel, Latvia, Moldova, Malta and hosts Bulgaria, eight emerging nations competed in two groups, with the winners going straight through to the final on last Sunday (25 March).

In a goal-rich clash hosts Bulgaria overcame Group A winner Faroe Islands in the final and celebrated victory the first time ever in the Women’s Challenge Trophy history.

The bronze medal went on to Israel after a thrilling match in two extra times against Latvia.

The results are as follow:

GROUP MATCHES

Group A
Vasil Levski Sports Hall, Veliko Tarnovo

22.03.2012 15:00 Faroe Islands vs. Estonia 32:23
22.03.2012 17:30 Israel vs. Malta 22:12
23.03.2012 15:00 Malta vs. Faroe Islands 5:41
23.03.2012 17:00 Estonia vs. Israel 22:30
24.03.2012 14:00 Estonia vs. Malta 21:13
24.03.2012 16:00 Faroe Islands vs. Israel 32:23

Group B
Orlovetz Hall, Gabrovo

22.03.2012 15:00 Latvia vs. Armenia 37:19
22.03.2012 17:30 Bulgaria vs. Moldova 25:22
23.03.2012 15:00 Moldova vs. Latvia 16:23
23.03.2012 17:00 Armenia vs. Bulgaria 12:53
24.03.2012 14:00 Moldova vs. Armenia 26:16
24.03.2012 16:00 Bulgaria vs. Latvia 33:20

Final Round
Orlovetz Hall, Gabrovo

7/8 Match
25.03.2012 10:00 Malta - Armenia 10:22

5/6 Match
25.03.2012 12:00 Estonia - Moldova 28:24

3/4 Match
25.03.2012 14:00 Israel - Latvia 29:28 (after second extra time)

Final
25.03.2012 16:00 Faroe Islands - Bulgaria 27:36

All Star Team of the 2012 IHF/EHF Women’s Challenge Trophy in Bulgaria:

Left wing: Epelboim Dana (ISR)
Left back: Dobreva Neli (BUL)
Middle back: Djurhuus Liljan (FAR)
Right back: Danberg Marjun Falkvard (FAR)
Right wing: Hristova Viktoriya (BUL)
Pivot: Garea Xenia (MDA)
Goalkeeper: Baikova Anna (LAT)

Best defence player: Omoregie Elizabeth (BUL)
Most valuable player: Dobreva Neli (BUL)

Top scorer: Vikrat Shir (ISR)

For more information about the IHF/EHF Women’s Challenge Trophy 2012 click HERE.

To read about the two host cities in Bulgaria click HERE.

To see a history of the IHF/EHF Women’s Challenge Trophy click HERE.