Croatia’s women return to Youth Olympic Games beach handball action after taking silver at Buenos Aires 2018, when the sport made its debut at Olympic level.

An emotional final in South America saw the European nation lose 2-0 to the host nation Argentina, Croatia not only competing with the players on the sand, but 1,000s of loud, energised home fans packed into not only the court itself, but the other courts and surrounding Sarmiento Park itself watching the historic action unfold on big screen TVs.

Croatia are not just the only women’s medallists from 2018 appearing at Dakar 2026, but the only women’s team itself, one of just three returning teams, alongside the men’s teams from Thailand and Hungary.

The Balkan nation is one of the hotbeds and spiritual homes of beach handball, with their men’s senior team known globally and their legendary ‘Jarun Cup’ tournament one of the world’s best.

On top of their history and longevity in the sport as a nation, Mario MOCILAC’s young squad at Dakar 2026 can rely on something not many other teams have – consistency of players and experience. With age restrictions in place for the Youth Olympic Games, Croatia have built a squad with a number of players who have at least two tournaments-worth of younger age events under their belts already.

Half of his squad of 10 for Dakar 2026 have that, with four of them on three tournaments or more: Lana KONJAR, Katija FURCIC and Petra GUDELJ. While FURCIC is the only player who can boast being present at all the events for this generation (U16 European Championship – 2024, U17 European Championship 2025, 2026, IHF Women’s Youth World Championship 2025), GUDEJ can boast two European appearances, a world championship last year, plus, uniquely amongst her squad, a senior appearance at The World Games 2025.

But a familiar foe is already evident for the Croatians: Spain. Along with People’s Republic of China and Mexico, the two European teams make up preliminary group A at Dakar 2026 with Croatia’s fellow mediterranean side beating them at the last three youth events – in the preliminary group stage at the world championship, Tunisia 2025 (0-2), 2025 European championship quarter-final (1-2) and 2026 European Championship twice, in the main round (0-2) and semi-final (1-2) – on home sand in Zagreb.

Hoping to stop the Spanish this year will be key goalkeeper for Croatia Tonka PAPIC. She will be joined in goal by Iva Suncica MASTELIC, who played for the silver medal-winning Croatia at the indoor U17 European Championship last year. PAPIC was voted into the All-star Team of the U17 European Beach Handball Championship earlier this year after ending with 46 saves from 182 shots in nine games – an incredible 25% save rate.

Down the other end of court, Sara VUKELIC (130 points) top-scored for Croatia at the continental event earlier this year, followed by FURCIC (82) and Lana KONJAR (63) – they will all be threats in West Africa.

Medals are present in the Croatian squad both on and off the sand. FURCIC, along with Nola LUCARIC and GUDELJ took bronze in their first tournament together – the 2024 U16 European Championship in Bulgaria, while team official Sinisa OSTOIC and coach MOCILAC were part of the Buenos Aires 2018 Croatian delegation. Both OSTOIC and MOCILAC were also with the coaching staff of the multiple medal-winning men’s senior team over many years.

Zagreb-native MOCILAC has been an indoor handball coach since 2000 and has coached on the sand since 2005. He has also played both disciplines, starting as a beach player back in 2003 and still playing in the older age, ‘Masters’ tournaments.

“We are very happy to have the opportunity to participate in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. It is a great honour for us to represent our country and European beach handball at such a prestigious event,” said MOCILAC to IHF.info.

“The draw placed us in a challenging group alongside Spain, a strong team we faced twice at the European Championship in Zagreb (2026). Our group also includes China and Mexico, two teams that are still an unknown to us, but we are sure they are good teams as they qualified for this big tournament.

“The recent European Championship showed that we have a strong team and a clear game plan capable of delivering good results. At the same time, it reminded us that beach handball is a sport that punishes even the slightest mistake against your opponent,” he added. “Our goal is to perform well in every group-stage match, achieve the best possible ranking, and secure a favourable position ahead of the most important match of the tournament – the quarter-final.

“With the support of our federation and the Croatian Olympic Committee, we will prepare as thoroughly as possible so that we can perform at our best in every match on our journey towards our goal. We will give everything we have to return from Senegal with a medal around our necks, while fully aware that there is still a lot of hard work and dedication ahead of us to make that dream a reality. I have a great group of girls and I am proud to be their coach.”

Leading MOCILAC’s side on the sand is captain LUCARIC who plays a dual role as both defender and left wing in offence. LUCARIC played seven of the eight games for the very first iteration of the team at the 2024 U16 European Championships two years ago and has been in and around the squad ever since.

She started playing for local indoor handball club Samobor at just seven years of age before discovering beach in 2023 and progressing quickly into the national team.

“Being at the Olympics represents the fulfilment of all my dreams and the greatest possible honour and motivation as an athlete,” said the 17-year-old. “Our group still holds some unknowns, with China and Mexico, while Spain reminds us of that tense semi-final in Zagreb earlier this year, so we know another real battle awaits us.

“It will be tense and beautiful at the same time, but we are driven by our hearts; a fighting team with high goals, who above all enjoy the sport and such great competitions. I play beach handball because of the energy, excitement, and freedom this sport offers. We will give everything we have on the court and proudly represent our Croatia.”

For OSTOIC, who is now the National Team Director for Beach Handball at the Croatian Handball Federation, he is looking forward to getting started on the sand in Saly.

“We want to win every match, but all teams are strong and good. The level of beach handball in our country is pretty good in comparison with the others and in the future, we want to continue with good results,” he explained. “It is so important for the sport and also for our federation to participate in this big event. In Croatia we have national championships in this age category but also even younger than this, so this is will be our base for future results.”

Coach: Mario MOCILAC
Key players: Tonka PAPIC (Goalkeeper), Nola LUCARIC (Defender/Left Wing), Petra GUDELJ (Defender), Katija FURCIC (Right Wing)
Qualification information: Tunisia 2025 – 7th, European representative place
History in tournament: 2018: 2nd (silver)
Group at Dakar 2026: Group A – People’s Republic of China (CHN), Croatia (CRO), Mexico (MEX), Spain (ESP)