AHF - News

There is no doubt that 2012 is the best year ever for Australian Handball in terms of participation in significant handball events. Following the Australian Men’s Team winning convincingly over New Zealand in the Oceania Region World Championship Qualifier, the beach handball teams equally performed very well in the 5^th Beach Handball World Championships held in Oman during 7-13 July 2013.

The Women’s Beach Handball Team finished in 8^th position out of 12 participating handball nations. The Women’s Beach Handball Team won their games against China, Singapore and Poland. Being in the top ten of the participating nations, the Australian Women’s Beach Handball Team is assured of an automatic entry into the next World Beach Games Championship to be held in Columbia, 2013. The men’s team also showcased its Aussie fighting spirit and skills on the sand.

Back Row: Boris Mensing [Assist. Coach], Amelia Wallace, Kate Napier, Clare Murray, Allira Hudson-Gofers, Alice Keighley, Leah Cece [reserve], Nanna Hedberg [Coach].
Front Row: Daniela Cook, Taylee Lewis, Vanja Smiljanic, Rosa Boyd, Emma van Bussel [ Capt.]

Handball Australia and the Australian handball family congratulate the beach handball players and officials on their fine performance. They are also proud that Australian Women’s Handball Team came a very close third in Fair Play Award, with Norway winning it; whereas Spain won the men’s award with Australian Men’s Handball Team a very close 2^nd.

Back Row: Boris Mensing [Coach], Dan Epstein, Andrew Mills, Lucas Turecek [ Capt.], Ben Dawson, Andrew Kelso, Nanna Hedberg [ Assist. Coach ].
Front Row: Nick Thompson, Tim Harvey, David Hudson, David Thompson.

Mark Dawson

In addition to the beach handball teams’ great performance in the tournament, Handball Australia is also proud that for the first time an Australian was invited to be a Technical Delegate in the competition. Although it was the first time that Mark Dawson of Queensland Team Handball Association had this role in the tournament, he was appointed as Delegate in three of the placement matches: the 9^th v 10^th place Women’s between Poland and China; the 5^th v 6^th Men’s between Egypt and Spain; and to the Men’s Bronze Medal Playoff for 3^rd v 4^th between Croatia and Russia. No doubt, that aside from directly benefiting him, the experience he gained will be valuable for, and benefit, both Australia and Oceania.

With the Commonwealth Games being held in Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018, there is greater push for beach handball and indoor handball to be included in the Games.