Qualification for Women's 19 EHF EURO throws off

The race is on for the remaining 11 spots at the Women's 19 EHF EURO in Denmark from 1 to 11 August 2013.

24 teams will go into the six three-day qualification tournaments starting on Friday, 16 May, hoping that they will go through and secure one of the coveted places at the final tournament.

Many matches can be followed via the European Handball Federation's live ticker.

Denmark as the organiser and second ranked nation at the 2011 Women's 17 European Championship have already qualified.

Russia as the first ranked nation at the 2011 Women's 17 European Championship and Norway as the third ranked nation at the 2011 Women's 17 European Championship have also already qualified.

Romania and Slovenia sealed their berth in the group 4 qualification tournament which was already played in March 2013.

From groups 1 to 6 the two top-ranked teams qualify for the final tournament while only the first ranked team from group 7 gets a berth in Denmark.

Two years ago, at the Women's 19 EHF EURO in 2011, Denmark placed first ahead of Netherlands and Austria.

This year, Czech Republic are the hosts for the qualification tournament in group 1 where they will face Hungary, Israel and Ukraine.

France host the tournament in group 2 where they will play against Portugal, Montenegro and Italy.

Sweden, Germany, Turkey and Finland will clash in group 3. The tournament is played in the Swedish city of Helsingborg.

The Austrian city of Tulln plays host to the tournament in group 5 where Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria and Armenia fight for the two spots that guarantee qualification.

Croatia welcome Spain, Lithuania and Switzerland to Vrbovec for the tournament in group 6.

Slovakia are the hosts of the qualification tournament in group 7 for which they welcome Serbia, Iceland and Moldova.