Veronica Kristiansen: "I want to be a key player"

It is only two weeks ago that Veronica Kristiansen celebrated her one-year anniversary as Norwegian international.

On 20 March 2013 she had her first appearance for her country and she scored four goals when Norway defeated Denmark 40:24 in a test match. Since then she played 24 internationals and scored 48 goals.

"Thinking back, my debut in the national team was a great experience, and I have really enjoyed being a part of the national team so far. It has meant a lot to my development," she tells ehf-euro.com.

However, just being part of the national team is not enough for her in the long run. There is no doubt in her voice when she speaks about her ambitions.

"I want to become a key player and want to contribute even more than I do today," says Kristiansen, who started to play handball at a relatively late age.

She was 13, when she moved from the football pitch into the handball hall.

"I was playing football until I was 13, but from then on, I was not allowed to play in the boys' team any longer, and that reduced my interest in playing football. And as my older sister was playing handball, I started on that as well," she explains.

Happy in Glassverket

While her older sister Charlotte has ended her handball career already, her younger sister Jeanett is playing in Norway's top club, Larvik HK.

But unlike her sister, Veronica cannot exactly say she is playing for a top club. Since 2011 she has been representing Glassverket IF, a club based in Drammen, a town with a population of around 62,000.

Glassverket are currently sixth (as of 8 April) in the Norwegian league.

"I feel fine in Glassverket, and I feel that my ambitions are being met here so far. I have been part of Glassverket being promoted from the 1. Division into the league, and general I feel that things are going upwards in the club," says the 1,75 metre tall left back who has been a back court player for all her handball life.

"I have played all three back court positions, but I feel most comfortable in the left back position and in the middle, as the playmaker," she says.

Kristiansen is well aware of her strengths and weaknesses.

"My strongest sides are my explosivity and my strength in the arrival phase in the attack. My shot from the distance has also improved lately.

"However, I still have to work with my defensive play where I cover one of the middle positions, and I also need to develop my shots from the distance even more," she says.

A new golden era ahead

Within the past 18 months, things have been going a bit downhill for the Norwegian national team. Norway have lost the title as European champions as well as the title as world champions, while they are still Olympic champions, though.

However, Veronica Kristiansen is convinced that a new golden era is waiting for Norway.

"There are so many talented young players developing really fast in Norwegian handball at the moment, that I'm sure we will soon be back on top of the handball world," she says.

This is the seventh part of a new series powered by eurohandball.com and ehf-euro.com. In the weeks to come we will throw the spotlight on the many young female handball talents all around Europe that are likely to make an impact on the international stage in the months and years to come.

Part 1: Sweden's Maria Adler: "My time will come"

Part 2: Austria's Sonja Frey: A pair of coaching brothers paved her way to handball

Part 3: Shenia Minevskaja: Handball in her genes

Part 4: Koumba Cissé jumping into the spotlight

Part 5: Aniko Kovacsics: Step by step towards her dreams

Part 6: Kinga Byzdra: From pram to profession