The Cook Islands made handball history on Tuesday (17 June) by playing their first-ever IHF World Championship match as a nation, when they took on Thailand on the opening day of the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Tunisia.

History made, fighting spirit shown

Representing not only a nation, but a continent in Hammamet, they eventually lost 2-0 to the Asian championship runners-up in their opener, with Eli Topui top-scoring for the Oceania side on 12 points.

It did not take long for the Cook Islands to get off of the mark – their first, historic world championship goal and two points coming after just 90 seconds with Aiganalua Samania setting up Totoo Te Au Arai Iaore on the right wing.

“It felt good, exciting, shocking to score, because i never really score much when we play, but to get our first goal, it felt so good,” said the specialist to ihf.info after the game.

“It's our first time playing at this kind of level. Most of us just started playing handball. There was a lot of excitement. Everyone was just so excited to get on the court and play and represent our country, our very small country, and we’re all very proud to be here,” he added. “Our families back home are so proud and were probably screaming while watching us, seeing all their kids playing at this level – it was their first time too.”

After Thailand took the lead early on in the first set, they extended the difference to +10 (14:4) halfway through  but in a show of the Cook Islands’ fighting spirit, they halved the lead to 15:10 less than three minutes later, but could not keep up the points-chase, losing their opening set by seven in the end (19:12).

A slow start saw the second set slip away from them within the first three minutes as they found themselves 8:0 down but, again, their spirit shone through as they went toe-to-toe in the remaining seven minutes of what was their first-ever competitive game, scoring 12 points, compared to Thailand’s 15, but eventually losing, 23:12.

“They were really fast, so it was really hard to block them,” said goalkeeper and defensive specialist Brendon Tepuretu to ihf.info. “It was really hard to see where they were shooting, they were just really good and they really outsmarted us.”

“Everyone was doing their best, but sadly, they were just a bit too good, too fast,” added Brendon’s younger brother Tangianau. “They were just a bit too quick, it was hard. They were pressuring us, pushing off and we're not really used to that, it was something different, for sure.”

Pride, tradition, happiness and eagerness to see what is possible

Despite the result, the joy which came from making their global debut in Tunisia was evident throughout the Cook Islands team after the result, with Tangianau still coming to terms with what the team has achieved just by being present at a world championship.

“Two months ago I would have never thought that I would end up in Africa. That's just so bizarre to me. I would have never imagined it; being here representing my country. It's something very different,” said the 15-year-old, who along with his teammates had travelled around 18,000km to get to Hammamet.

“It felt really good to get back on the sand after a while but we were just a little bit rusty. I'm feeling proud to represent my country, and not just my country, but all of Oceania, I'm feeling very grateful for my managers and my coaches.”

At the end of the match, Paul-Luiz Temaru Enua-O-Avaiki Van Eijk, part of the Cook Islands coaching team, spoke at length with his players in a huddle before they broke off to head back to the hotel to prepare for games against host Tunisia, plus Mexico on the final day of preliminary games on Wednesday (18 June).

“The message to them, was just, be proud. To accept that this is our first time at this level,” he explained to ihf.info. “For a lot of these boys it's only been less than four months of actual training together. We're happy. We're proud. Yes, we could have done better and we made some basic mistakes, but as long as our boys hold their heads up and look forward to performing better, there's not much else we can ask.

“There were facets of play where we did exactly what we wanted to do, and they executed it brilliantly, but there was also some where it just didn't happen. The real one really is just the speed of our passes. If we can improve on that, then I think we'll get into our holes, we will get into the line a lot quicker, and that should allow us better execution – that's what we’re hoping for.”

And Van Eijk’s happiness with the team was evident throughout the interview, a wide smile coming over his face at multiple times when talking about the experience they have all been through and are continuing to go through.

“I'm very proud of these boys. For some of them it's been a very, very long journey and for a lot of them, it's actually been not a long journey,” he explained “For them to be performing the way they are now, we're happy. 

“I told the boys before we left that I'm eager to see what you guys do. The word I used was ‘eager’. I'm eager to see how you're going to perform. I'm eager to see your personalities come out. And I said to them, right now after the game that I'm still eager. They haven't fully shown us what they're capable of, and I'm still going to be waiting for it, and I hope that they bring it.

“I also said to them when you get the opportunity to be yourself,” he added. “Don't stress too much about where we are. Yes, we're here and enjoy that. Love that moment, but then just be yourselves. And as you can see, the boys were being themselves. They were happy. They got encouragement from each other and that's all we can ask for.”

Ahead of the game, Kuateti Toru had led the Cook Islands with their traditional ‘pe'e’, a form of a challenge. This lets their opponents know they are there as warriors for their country, as brothers-in-arms representing the pacific nations, while calling on the mana (strength) from God, their ancestors and families to empower them to leave their mark at Tunisia 2025.

Around the court, players and officials from various different teams took time to witness the occurrence of the ceremony, which is rarely seen in the handball world.

“We practised it quite often before we came,” said Tangianau. “It was decided by our captains. We had a meeting with the whole team, stuck with what we knew and put something together.”

A family affair on and off court with hopes to achieve

Alongside Tangianau and Brendon, mother Peerui Tearuru is also in Hammamet as part of the Cook Islands delegation, but despite the trio of Tepuretu family numbers, there is only one family in Tunisia with the Cook Islands – although one still with the age-old tradition of sibling rivalry.

“Our team is family; our managers, our coaches and our players, we're all family,” said Brendon, before adding dryly, “…but the good thing is that I'm not sharing a room with my brother.”

“If we share a room together, he's going to be crying on the floor,” jumped in younger brother Tangianau, with a big smile on his face, before big brother ensured he knew who was boss.

“If we share a room together,” added Brendon, “…he's going to be out the window and crying on the ground. Three storeys down.”

As the two brothers break out in laughter at their exchange, highlighting the camaraderie within the team, Tangianau wanted to leave one last message for everyone watching his side, especially those back home.

“We just want to give it our all here, 100%,” he says with a laser focus. “My message to everyone back home is ‘Kuki Airani kia rangatira’(Cook Islands standing strong)."