Hungary’s team aim for the podium again

The Hungarian men’s and women’s beach handball national teams are preparing for the upcoming European Beach Handball Championships in Lloret de Mar (30 June to 5 July), with some new players on board and the hopes for yet another top podium finish.

Two years ago, at the European Championships in Randers, no less than three teams took home gold: In the under-19 event Hungary won the men’s and the women’s competition, while the women topped the podium at the senior championships.

The men’s team finished seventh and they have done their part to improve this time around: New head coach István Gulyás started to work with the team already last summer.

The European Championship will now be the first time when Gulyás will be able to see where his team stands on the international level.

"We didn’t participate in the World Championship last year, but consequently we had the time to refresh our team with new players, who won the under-19 European Beach Handball Championship in 2013 in Denmark, and I think they are ready to play at senior level now," says Gulyás.

"We are currently building a team that will be strong enough to win the World Championship 2016. As it is held in Hungary, this is a special event for us.

"Only some of our players played at the 2013 senior European Championships, but our young, dynamic and very ambitious team would like to show their abilities and be up there with Europe’s top nations (men's playing schedule)."

While some of Hungary’s 2013 under-19 men’s championship winners have made the cross to the senior national team, Hungary’s new under-19 generation is eager to win gold again.

"We have been trying to find our best team from a wide selection of players who were available," says junior’s head coach Péter Somogyi.

"This team has strong defenders and some really talented attacking players like Zalán Tihaméri or the left-handed Péter Valler. Of course, it is our aim to defend our title, but it won’t be easy because all other teams would like to beat us (men's under-19 playing schedule)."

Women with special tactics

Hungary will also send teams to both women’s events.

As title holders their aim is to top the podium again despite the fact that there have been numerous changes in terms of players

However, head coach János Gróz, who is responsible for both women’s teams, is confident in his player’s abilities.

"Our two teams are training together, and we have some players who can perform fantastic spin shots and who can make decisions in the most important moments," he says.

"We will play with a special tactic in attack and we will stick to our concept throughout all matches.

"Bozsana Fekete, Kitti Gróz, Renáta Csiki and Fruzsina Kretz are some well-known players in our team, and I hope they and the new players will turn into a successful team that is able to be among the best teams (women's playing schedule)."