30.09.2012, 03:20 Thanks to the comeback of superstar Gro Hammerseng, the 2011 Women’s EHF Champions League winners are hoping to go all the way again. |
||
Countdown, part 4: Larvik HåndballklubbThanks to the comeback of superstar Gro Hammerseng, the 2011 Women’s EHF Champions League winners are hoping to go all the way again. When Larvik HK won the trophy after a thrilling final series against Spanish side Itxako in 2011, it was the biggest success ever for Norwegian club handball. But last season the former defending champions were stopped in the semi-final by eventual winner Budućnost. So Larvik are again the hunter, not the hunted in the upcoming season. Their squad for this season is virtually the same, with Olympic champion Amanda Kurtovic the only player who left (to Danish side Viborg). In contrast, Larvik signed three new players including Danish international Kristina Bille and Norwegian former international Anja Edin. But the biggest hopes of the club lay on the shoulders of Gro Hammerseng. Around seven month after giving birth to a son, the former world handball player of the year is back in the team. Their minimum goal is to reach the Main Round, and Ole Gustav Gjekstad, who is coach and manager of the team, can focus on the international competition. “The Champions League is - as always - our main goal for the next season,” he said. Team captain Tonje Larsen, who missed the Olympics as she recovered from knee surgery, is back on track now. Her expectations are high, too: “My opinion is that we have a stronger team this season than last year. The squad has more depth which gives us more options than in the past. But as always it will be wise to focus on the next game – a boring but important motto. There are some very strong teams in this season also in our group.”
Three questions to coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad:
What does participation in the Women’s EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Which teams are your personal favourites to win the Women’s EHF Champions League season – and why?
Larvik Håndballklubb (NOR)
Women’s EHF Champions League records: Other EC records:
Cup Winners´ Cup:
EHF Cup:
Norwegian champions: 14 (93/94, 96/97, 99/00, 00/01, 01/02, 02/03, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12)
Further information
TEXT: Björn Pazen |
||
Content Copyright by the European Handball Federation and EHF Marketing (c) 1994-2024 |