Mendy returns home

French left back Claudine Mendy is back in France. After giving birth to a girl, Lina, in November, Mendy signed a two-and-a-half year contract with EHF Challenge Cup participants Issy-Paris Hand.

Curently sitting third in the French League, ‘IPH’ will now have two top-class players on the left back position with Mendy alongside Mariama Signaté.

“She is able to play in different positions, which is very important for us. Signing Claudine Mendy is unquestionably very good news for our club,” said club president Jean-Marie Sifre.

“I started training again at the beginning of January. Hopefully, I'll be back on the court at the end of February,” said Mendy.

With a very busy month, Issy-Paris hope to get Claudine Mendy on the court for the French League Cup's final tournament, which will take place in Metz on 20-23 February. But they must get past Union Mios-Biganos Bègles in the quarter-final before they can think about the event.

The best experience

During the 2012/13 season, Mendy won the regional handball league and played in the Women’s EHF Champions League's Main Round with Buducnost Podgorica.

"My year in Monténégro was the best experience I've ever had. There, I had the luck to have a very good team with very good friends and the atmosphere during our games was amazing,” explained the 24-year-old.

Part of the French national team before its pregnancy, Claudine Mendy hopes to get back to the top level very soon in order to be integrated into Alain Portes' team in the future.

"I know that it will be hard work for me but I'm ready for that. One of the reasons why I signed for Issy-Paris Hand is because I want to give myself the best chance to play at the 2016 Olympics," concluded Mendy.