After a six-year break due to covid and not qualifying through their continental championships, Hungary return to IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship action in the best possible way – as European champions.

Last year, at the continental event in Portugal, the Hungarians saw off Germany 2-0 (20:16, 20:18) in the gold medal match to take the European title for the first time after previously winning silver and bronze.

Leading the way in the final was Andras John, who scored 12 points, with notable efforts by the trio of Attila Kun, Peter Hajdu and Laszlo Nahaj – all three of whom have been selected to represent the sport at the IHF Beach Handball Showcase next month, held on the sidelines of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Shortly after their gold in Portugal, the Hungarians made it through to another continental final, of the 2023 European Beach Games in Poland. Their preliminary campaign saw them beat Portugal (2-0), Germany (2-1) and lose to Croatia (0-2) before a quarter-final win against hosts Poland (2-1) and semi-final victory, defeating Portugal 2-0 again. But the final was a step too far as they went down 1-2 to Spain.

Those podium-topping results were in direct contrast to their 2021 European Championship ranking, which saw a ninth-place finish resulting in missing the cut for the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece.

Gulyás was in charge when Hungary made their last appearance at an IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship, overseeing a squad including John, Kun and Hajdu which went on to win bronze in Russia.

For China 2024, Hungary will face Denmark, Oman and Australia in their preliminary group phase.

"My colleagues and I are always considering and working on how to build the team so that it is in the best shape for this stage of the competition,” said Gulyás to mksz.hu about the draw. “We broadly know everyone in the field, so we really shouldn't be surprised.”

EHF Master Coach Gulyás has been in charge of the team since 2014 and the former Veszprem player and Hungarian Handballer of the year (1995) is a winner of EHF Cup Winner's Cup back in 1992 and multiple Hungarian Cup and Hungarian Championship winner too.

He has also coached indoor handball for UHK Krems (Austria), Khaitan SC (Kuwait) Dunaújváros (Hungary), Vác (Hungary) and Gyöngyös (Hungary).

Coach: István Gulyás

Key Players: Andras John, Attila Hun, Peter Hajdu, Laszlo Nahaj

Qualification information: 2023 EHF European Beach Handball Championships – 1st

History in Tournament: 2004: 6th, 2006: 5th, 2008: 7th, 2010: 2nd, 2012-2014: DNQ, 2016: 4th, 2018: 3rd, 2022: DNQ

Group at China 2024: Group A: Hungary, Denmark, Oman, Australia