Nine European teams take to the sand at World Beach Handball Championships

It is six years ago that a European team last topped the podium at a World Beach Handball Championship.

In 2010 in Antalya, Norway won the all-European women's final against Denmark, but ever since Brazil dominated in the women's as well as in the men's event in which they have won consecutively even for the past eight years.

However, the chance to break the Brazilian dominance in world beach handball comes as early as Tuesday for the European powerhouses when the World Beach Handball Championship throws off in Budapest.

Five of the 12 women's teams as well as four of the 12 men's teams stem from Europe.

In the women's event European champions and tournament hosts Hungary have been drawn to Group A together with Spain and Italy, the teams that placed third and fourth respectively at the Beach Handball EURO 2015. Thailand, Argentina and Australia complete the field in Group A.

In Group B European Championship silver medallists Norway face world champions Brazil, the second European team in this group, Poland, as well as Uruguay, Chinese Taipei and Tunisia.

In both the men's and the women's event the top three teams of each group qualify for the main round from which the first four eventually make up the semi-finalists.

In the men's event European champions Croatia, also the last European team to win the Men's World Championship back in 2008, are the top seed in Group B.

They face European Championship silver medallists Spain as well as Hungary, Oman, Uruguay and Australia.

The only European participants in Group A are Ukraine, the bronze medallists from the EURO 2015. Their opponents are world champions Brazil, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain and USA.

The preliminary round at the 7th World Beach Handball Championship takes place from 12 to 14 July, the main round and the semi-finals are scheduled for 15 and 16 July, the finals will be played on 17 July.

For more information also visit the official event website.