Malta women’s Beach Handball team gains vital experience at EBT Lupa Beach Cup in Budapest

The Malta Women’s Beach Handball National Team returned from Budapest last weekend following their participation in the EBT Lupa Beach Cup, held on the shores of Lake Lupa Premium Beach in Budakalász, Hungary.

The tournament served as the third qualification weekend of the OBI National Beach Handball Championship and an official stop on the European Beach Handball Tour (EBT), one of the continent’s premier beach handball circuits.

Played directly on the sand in a high-energy, competitive environment, the event featured top-level women’s and men’s divisions with points counting towards both domestic Hungarian rankings and the continental tour standings.

The Maltese women pushed hard in every game, with several matches going to the wire against higher-ranked European opposition. Though results didn’t fall their way, the margins told a different story, that of a squad closing the gap and refusing to be outclassed.

Head coach Daniel Tanti Farrugia was encouraged by what he saw.

“The results weren’t what we hoped for, but the performance level gives me real confidence. We were competitive in our matches and the girls showed they can hold their own against experienced European opposition. Every minute of play at this level is exactly what we need as we build towards the Mediterranean Beach Games,” he said.

Malta Handball Association president Vladimiro Comodini echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of the bigger picture.

“Competing in events like the EBT LupaBeach Cup is a cornerstone of our development strategy,” he said.

“We are investing in our women’s programme with a clear goal = to put in a strong performance at the Mediterranean Beach Games next year, and weekends like this one are an essential part of that journey. I’m proud of the team’s commitment and determination.”

The Mediterranean Beach Games represent a key target for the Malta Handball Association’s beach handball programme, and the national women’s squad will continue their international preparation in the months ahead.

The Malta Handball Association president thanked SportMalta, VisitMalta and the Maltese Olympic Committee for their continued support, without which participation in international events of this level would not be possible.