Champions host international tournament in Győr

Women’s EHF Champions League winners Győri Audi ETO KC are set to host an international handball tournament on Friday 23 to Sunday 25 August.

Six prestigious European top teams will compete during the PwC Handball Fiesta as they come to the end of preparations for Europe’s top flight.

The aim of PwC Handball Fiesta is to provide quality preparation possibility for these top teams and provide a remarkable opening for the upcoming Women’s EHF Champions League season.

The participants are HC Leipzig, Metz HB, RK Krim Mercator, Rostov-Don, WHC Vardar SCBT and Győri Audi ETO KC, all of them have qualified or will compete in qualification for a place among Europe’s elite.

Teams will play one match each day and will get to enjoy entertaining programmes and relaxing activities provided by the organisers.

Győr was chosen as host city not only because of the world class handball club, but also because of the summer programmes in the city. During the PwC Handball Fiesta fans can visit concerts, exhibitions as well as wine days and a gastronomic festival.

The tournament will provide a number of interesting stories for the fans, such as the return of Andrea Lekic and Jovanka Radicevic to Győr in the colours of Vardar.

“I will meet many good friends and incredible fans again. The PwC Handball Fiesta will show us in which phase we are.

“It is very important to check how good we are, because 14 days after Fiesta we have qualification matches. If I have to play against Győr it won’t be easy. It is going to be strange for me to play against my friends,” said Lekic, who captained Györ last season.

Rostov and Vardar could face each other in the final of their qualification tournament in September and a meeting at the tournament in Györ could prove to be an interesting dress-rehearsal.

“PwC Handball Fiesta is a good opportunity to play and interact with high level players. I know how people love handball in Hungary so I am sure that there is going to be a full house,” said Rostov-Don coach Rehina Shymkute.

Krim Mercator, one of the favourites for this season’s competition, may get the chance to size up future opponents Metz. For Leipzig, Skopje and Rostov-Don this tournament is the dress rehearsal for the CL qualification matches.

Györ’s Anikó Kovacsics is looking forward to the home tournament and is confident that the event will prove to be a useful exercise for her team as they prepare to defend their Women’s EHF Champions League title.

“It serves our preparation very well, since we will meet prestigious teams. The tournaments at the end of this summer will be more difficult, because the participating teams are stronger so we can measure where we are in comparison with them,” said Kovacsics.

PwC Handball Fiesta schedule:

23th August – Friday

15:00 hrs. local time - HC Leipzig - Rostov-Don
17:00 - RK Krim - WHC Vardar SCBT
19:00 - Győri Audi ETO KC - Metz HB

24th August – Saturday

13:00 - RK Krim - Rostov-Don
15:00 - WHC Vardar SCBT - Metz HB
17:00 - Győri Audi ETO KC - HC Leipzig

25 August – Sunday

14:00 – placement match
16:00 – placement match
18:00 – final