18.06.2017, 08:54
The former champions are also the new champions

REVIEW: One year after the Dutch girls and Spain's boys topped the podium at the U16 Beach Handball EURO in Nazaré, they successfully defended the title at the U17 event in Zagreb on Sunday

The former champions are also the new champions

Spain's U17 boys and the Netherlands' U17 girls have successfully defended their European beach handball crowns.

One year after both topped the podium at the U16 Beach Handball EURO in Nazaré, they went all the way again at the U17 tournament in Zagreb on Sunday.

Spain beat Hungary in the final 2:0 (19:18, 18:16), while the Netherlands had the upper hand against Portugal, also beating them 2:0 (23:20, 19:18).

"We have proven our domination in beach handball and words can’t describe our happiness. Our opponents played excellently, but they didn’t surprise us," said Spain's Bernal Rodriguez.

"Happy, happy, we are really happy! This is our second title in a row, we can’t believe it yet. It’s amazing," said Dutch player Marit-Jaelle Van Ede.

Germany claimed bronze in both events, with the nation's boys winning 2:1 (19:16, 16:17, 13:12) against Russia and the girls beating Hungary 2:1 (18:16, 12:21, 9:6).

"This win is amazing, the feeling is great, I'm full of emotions. The shoot-out was crazy, but for me, our third place is the most important," said Germany's Torben Knop. 

All-stars awarded

At the end of the tournament All-star Teams for the boys' and the girls' competition were named.

Germany's Emil Paulik became MVP, Guillermo Garcia-Cabans from Spain was voted best goalkeeper and Vet Chan Suan from Russia became the top scorer with 112 points. The award for the fairest team went to Serbia.

In the girls' competition Lynn Kessler from the Netherlands was voted MVP, Diana Cristina from Romania was voted best goalkeeper, Ukraine's Anna Diablo became the top scorer with 107 and the fair play award went to Poland.

The Beach Handball EURO 2017 will continue with the senior event on Tuesday, 20 June.

All matches will be streamed live on youtube.com/ehfTV.

TEXT: EHF / ts
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