Germany’s women’s junior team is built to be hard to crack. At China 2026, they have shown remarkable depth and balance: at least nine players have scored 16 goals or more, while their defence has produced a tournament-high 67 steals - 14 more than any other team.

That defensive edge has helped fuel a team that also has the second-best attack, with 250 goals, just three behind Denmark ahead of the final. Germany lead the tournament in assists with 110 and have also committed the third-fewest turnovers.

What really makes them so dangerous is the way they function as a unit. And at the heart of it all is centre back Ruslana Litvinov, whose influence has lifted those stats even further.

The diminutive centre back (1,73m) is only 18 years old, turning 19 this August. But she plays with the maturity and control of a seasoned player and the vibes she gives on the court are of an old-school playmaker.

 

“The feeling is amazing to be here. I think we all worked very, very hard to get to this point and we all invested very much in this team and in this competition. I think we have cold minds and warm hearts, and this is why we got to this point,” says Litvinov.

While modern handball is played with speed and via breakthroughs, Litvinov lurks in defence, positioning herself expertly to hamper the opposition. On the other side of the ball, she is the fulcrum of Germany’s attack, dictating the tempo, the rhythm and the play.

And she does it with an effortless charm, providing a breath of fresh air in the current handball environment. But did this nonchalant style came as she grew up in the sport?

“I think it came naturally. I always kind of did it, but our coaches also allowed me to do it. So, I think that’s very nice of them,” adds Litvinov.

Talking about stats, here are some from the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, before Germany take on Denmark in the final, a rematch of the 2008 final between the same two countries.

Litvinov has scored 17 goals from 28 shots, making her the sixth best scorer in Germany’s team. But she assisted 24 goals – the seventh ranked player in those standings overall. She also drew 10 penalties from Germany’s opponents, providing a dual threat in attack, with constant shifts in movement which make her difficult to defend against.

On average, she stole two balls per match, taking her overall tally to 14 steals, three more than any other player at China 2026, constantly lurking, paying attention, reading the opponents and pouncing when needed.

 

“I played in the right back position at first, when I started to play handball, therefore the position was different than the one in the centre. Different responsabilities, different tasks, a different way to play. My goal there was also just to score and not really assist the others, so I think that came with the years and with experience,” says Litvinov.

Now, she is dictating what Germany do in attack. And that, in Litvinov’s words, is something which she enjoys a lot.

“I like to take responsibility. I have the power to influence the others, but also give them the chance to score and be a part of it, and I really enjoy that,” says the 18-year-old centre back.

And Litvinov is just getting started.

She started playing handball when she was just three years old, following in her sister’s footsteps. 
Handball was already part of the family. Her father, who is from Russia, played the sport at college level before the family moved to Germany, where she was born. He insisted that she should give handball a try, and that early push helped set her on the path to where she is now.

“My family always come to see me play and this is a huge motivation for me, because it is very important and no matter how far it is, they are there,” says Litvinov.

But now, it is all about business and the final of the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, in Jinzhong.

Germany are unbeaten at China 2026, winning seven out of seven to secure a place in the last match, against Denmark. They beat powerhouses like Spain, Norway and France in the last three matches and have always found a way to win, irrespective of how difficult it was.

One last test, now, against another strong side, and Germany can win their first world title in this age category since 2008 – when they also beat Denmark – and complete the double, after securing the title at the W19 EHF EURO 2025, where Litvinov was also a part of the team.

“They are a strong side. They are a team with very, very versatile players, so they’re not only shooters or one-against-one players, but they have everything in the mix. I think it will be hard, so we have to get some ideas on how to overcome this strong defence. But we will try our best to win the title,” concludes the 18-year-old centre back.