Randers' sandy courts open for 2013 European Beach Handball Championship

The Men's 19 and Women's 19 European Beach Handball Championship came to a close on Sunday night (7 July) in the Danish city of Randers with Hungary celebrating double gold.

However, the action does not stop on the community's sandy shores as the youth tournament was only the prelude to the 2013 European Beach Handball Championship which will throw on Monday, 9 July.

26 teams overall, or 13 each in the women's as well as the men's event, have registered for the final tournament, all of them vying to succeed Croatia who won the women's as well the men's competition at the 2011 Championship on home court in Umag.

Croatia again will be among the favourites in both events, however, they have to be prepared for some strong opposition which is likely to come from teams such as Hungary, Denmark and Spain.

The hosts have reinforced their men's squad with top star and beach handball enthusiast, Hans Lindberg, who only about month ago one won the VELUX EHF Champions League with German side HSV Hamburg.

This mix of aspiring teams is prone to make up for an exciting six days of beach handball action before the European champions will be crowned late on Sunday, 14 July.

Information around the 2013 European Championship

For the men's event Croatia, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and Sweden have been seeded in group A.

Russia, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland and Italy have been seeded in group B.

The top four ranked teams from each group qualify for the amin round which is followed by the semi-finals.

The entire match schedule can be found here.

The similar playing system applies to the women's event for which Croatia, Norway, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Russia have been seeded in group A.

Denmark, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Greece and Sweden make up group in the preliminary round.

Don't miss a second of the action

The 2013 European Beach Handball Championship throws off in Randers, Denmark, from 9 to 14 July 2013.

Entry to the event area for spectators is free. There are no tickets necessary.

Defending champions in both the men's and the women's event are the teams from Croatia.

Matches from the main court are streamed live via www.kanalsport.dk/livestream. A live ticker is also available.

For more information and to keep up to date visit also the event's official website and become a fan of the EHF's beach handball Facebook page.