Favourites earn trophies at EHF European Masters

Four days of handball at the 15th EHF European Masters in Innsbruck ended on Sunday with the finals in the various age categories.

In both women’s competitions the title went to Angyalok. The Hungarian side dominated the 33+ category as they defeated FIF of Denmark 17:11 in the final. Grane Arendal of Norway took the bronze medal.

Angyalok set a record by winning the 43+ event for the third straight time. They edged Lynge Uggeloese of Denmark 18:17 in the final, while another Danish side, FIF, finished third.

Favourites’ triumphs in men’s competitions

Most of the men’s competitions also ended with favourites’ triumphs.

The tightly contested 35+ category, however, was an exception with Russia finishing on top of the podium. In the semi-final the Russian side came back from 8:5 down to beat HC Achensee of Austria 10:9, and they next dethroned defending champions Masters Porto of Portugal by winning the final 16:14. Strojar Malacky of Slovakia ended in third place.

Old Boys Budapest remained the dominating force in the 45+ category. The Hungarian team took their third title in a row, though they only shrugged off Veterani 022 Ruma of Serbia in the second half of the final. After a 6:6 half-time score, the Old Boys won 17:14. Slovan Veterani of Slovenia took home the bronze medal.

The 50+ event also saw the defending champions lifting the trophy again: Odessa of Ukraine, led by Valery Gopin, the two-time Olympic champion (1988, 1992), two-time world champion (1993, 1997) and EHF EURO 1996 winner. Gopin netted twice as Odessa defeated the Austrian Veterans 12:7 in the final. Third place went to M50 Portugal.

Having fun with playing handball has no age limits

More than 1,000 players, varying in age between 33 and nearly 80, showed that having fun with playing handball doesn’t know any age limits.

“It was a great event with a lot of thrilling matches, big emotions, many goals, deserved champions,” said the president of the Tyrolean Handball Association, Thomas Czermin. “The Masters have shown once more that they are an enrichment to the European handball family.”

Full results and other information can be found on the event’s website.

The EHF European Masters were held in Austria for the first time since the inaugural edition took place in Vienna in 2003.