11.05.2010, 03:10
Lunde Borgersen to Hypo

Viborg playmaker is third big signing for the Austrians.

Lunde Borgersen to Hypo

Hypo-NÖ continues to strengthen its squad for the next season, and has signed Norwegian international Kristine Lunde Borgersen for one season, with the option of adding another year to the contract.

30 year-old Borgersen will be leaving top Danish club Viborg HK for the Austrians. With Viborg, she’ll be playing in the Champions League final this coming weekend in Bucharest against Oltchim Valcea, and has the chance to win the title for the second consecutive time.Just like her twin sister, Katrine Lunde Haraldsen – who is joining Györ next season – "Kikki" will be moving to the continent. It’ll be the first time for the Lunde twins to not share the same club, but the relatively short distance between Austria’s Vienna and Hungary’s Györ will not hinder them from meeting after training sessions.

Borgersen switched from Aalborg DH to Viborg HK in 2007, and she has twice won the Danish Championship, and also became a cup winner in 2008. She won the European Championship with Norway in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and, also in 2008, she won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. With her signing, Hypo-NÖ has gained a high quality centre-back.

At today’s press conference the management of the Austrian club announced that some players will be leaving the team at the end of the season. It was reported earlier that both left-wingers, Erika Kirsner and Idalina Mesquita will leave the club. Kirsner will finish her career, whilst Mesquita returns to Germany. The Brazilian player has signed a two-year contract with Thüringer HC.

Austrian national goalkeeper Petra Blazek will also say farewell to Hypo-NÖ, as she also aims to play in the German league. Several German first division teams are interested in securing her services.Finally, club icon Seong-Ok Oh will also part company with Hypo-NÖ, and will be returning to South Korea. It’s undecided whether she’ll continue her playing career.

"Kristine is a world-class player, and one of the best at her position. A lot of clubs were after her, so we’re extremely happy that she decided in favour of us. We’re confident she’ll replace the departing Oh at the playmaker position very well. With her and Carmen Amariei we’ll have an excellent back-court for next season, a position where we were slightly lacking this season," Gunnar Prokop commented on the club’s new signing.Hypo-NÖ is still looking to strengthen its squad even further, and is seeking a second line-player. The club is in discussion with several others in this regard.

TEXT: Márk Hegedüs