23.10.2013, 11:55
"Sport is unpredictable, every team can win"

INTERVIEW: Ahead of the Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification, Poland's goalkeeper Anna Wysokinska talks about the matches against Montenegro and Czech Republic and also reveals what changed since she got married this summer

"Sport is unpredictable, every team can win"

The Polish national team is looking forward to a good start to the Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification.

However, their campaign in Group 3 is far from easy as they face EHF EURO 2012 champions, Montenegro, on 23 October and the Czech Republic four days later in their first two matches.

Especially the second match in Lublin will be a special occasion for goalkeeper Anna Wysokinska. The 26-year-old, who now plays for SG BBM Bietigheim in Germany, will return to Lublin and the Globus Hall at which she took to the court for three seasons for Lublin.

ehf-euro.com talked to her ahead of the EHF EURO qualifiers.

ehf-euro.com: Life has changed for you recently. You joined a new handball club and you got married. What is more difficult? Playing in the German Bundesliga or the family life?
Anna Wysokinska: This is good question (she laughs). This summer brought a lot of changes to my personal as well as to my professional life. I'm still getting accustomed to it.

I'm very happy that I've joined SG BBM Bietigheim. My dreams about playing in Bundesliga against the best players came true. Apart of that I've met great people there. And if you want to know what kind of wife I am, you should ask my husband Micha. He hasn't complained so far.

ehf-euro.com: The first match of the Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification will be very hard for you and the national team. Poland face the EHF EURO 2012 champions, Montenegro. But the team has has shown good performance against better team such as Sweden in play-offs for the World Championship 2013 recently. What can be the key to success in Podgorica?
Anna Wysokinska: The answer how to gain at least one point is very easy. We'll have to score the same amount of goals or one more than Montenegro. Very few people gave us a chance against Sweden, but we did it.

Sport is unpredictable, every team can win. We have realised that Montenegro are favourites of our group. It is the team, that won the final of the 2012 European Women's Handball Championship against Norway and that gained silver medal at the Olympic Games in London the same year. Many of Montenegro's players are world-class stars.

ehf-euro.com: Czech Republic will be your second opponents. If you want to play in Hungary and Croatia next year, You have to win against them. What do you expect from this game?
Anna Wysokinska: We know that if we want to qualify for the EHF EURO 2014, each match will be important for us. I think that will be a tough game. I am sure that all players will fight from the first to the last minute. Czech Republic like us dream about playing in Hungary and Croatia.

ehf-euro.com: After more than a year, you will return to Lublin where you spent three years of your career. What are your memories?
Anna Wysokinska: It was a great period of my life as well as of my career. I cried after the last match in Lublin's jersey. I creep when I remember farawell which was prepared by the club and the fans.

I still stay in touch with many people from this city and sometimes I manage to go to Lublin. I'm delighted that I will able to revisit Globus Hall. I must admit that I'm missing the spontaneous cheering. I can't wait match against Czech Republic.

ehf-euro.com: MKS Lublin are playing in the Women's EHF Champions League this season. Do you regret that you aren't part of the team anymore?
Anna Wysokinska: My sister Alexandra (Baranowska) is still playing there. It is fantastic feeling to play against such teams like FC Midtjylland. I decided to change the club based on my future.

I realised that I wouldn't play handball forever. I use German everyday, it is very important for me because I finished German area studies. Additionally I am working, following my dream and I am with my husband. We are living in a wonderful part of Germany.

Playing in the Women's EHF Champions League would be the icing on the cake. I haven't ended my career yet, so maybe one day... I'm happy what I achieved and I'm optimistic about the future.

ehf-euro.com: We are at the beginning of the season which will be very long for you. Any wishes for the coming months?
If we talk about my sports career I want to stay in Bundesliga for the next season and play regularly in the national team. Privately I still want to connect my job with playing handball and being a good wife (laughs).

Photos courtesy of Ben Horler

TEXT: Maciej Firlej / ts