The ‘IHF Beach Handball Showcase’ in Paris threw-off today as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games celebrated day one of action in the French capital.

The showcase will be played across three days – Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 July – and features six All-star Teams made up of athletes from 17 different countries and coached by pairings of the world’s best coaches, joined by the France men’s and women’s national teams.

Perfect record for Vela and Hydra women

The opening game saw Greece’s Maria Karantoni and Croatia’s Mladen Paradzik partner together to coach Team Vela, against the threat of Team Hydra coached by Germany’s Alex Novakovic and Hungary’s Tamas Neukum, now part of the IHF Beach Handball Working Group.

Netherlands’ Meike Kruijer opened the scoring as she helped her side to a 2-0 (16:13, 13:12) victory In the other three games, Brazil’s Nathalie Sena led the scoring with 18 points as Team Lyra saw off the threat of the France women’s national side to win 2-1 (20:21, 20:13, SO 7:4) and they returned later to make it two wins from two, thanks to Spain’s deadly Asun Batista and her 18 points in a 2-1 (25:20, 16:21, SO 7:6) victory. 

“This moment is so amazing, I have no words to describe it,” said Sena to IHF.info about her experience on Saturday. “Paris is a charming city and I'm loving getting to know a little bit of this wonderful city and showing off my sport.”

“Today was one of those days when everything works out, because I'm with great friends and the best players in the world – playing with them is surreal and I am very happy to share this historic moment with them,” she added. “It’s also a great experience to play with the best coaches in the world. I love learning new tactics because I learn and see other ways to play. Letícia and Khaled are fantastic coaches with a lot of experience and I’m learning a lot from them.”

In the closing women’s game of the day Team Vela beat France 2-1 (20:24, 26:12, SO 7:6) with Gisella Bonomi’s 14 points inflicting damage on the home side.

Watching Team Vela on the opening day was former Norway Beach Handball international, and now Norway Indoor Handball International, Maren Aardahl who took advantage of the rest day her event at Paris 2024 to support former national teammate, and Team Vela player, Elisabeth Hammerstad.

Men’s competition completely equal

After Ali Heidarian (Islamic Republic of Iran) and Mohsen Al Yafaei (Qatar) were unable to travel to Paris, former French national team player and now IHF Analyst Mickael Illes, plus former Spain national team goalkeeper Ricardo Amerigo Fernandez, were called up as replacements and were quickly in action on a day which saw each of the four teams win one and lose on.

A total of 14 points from Argentina’s Nahuel Perez helped his Team Pegasus side – also coached by Paradzik and Karantoni – defeat Team Aquila 2-1 (19:18, 18:22, SO 8:4). France then excited the home fans present in very wet conditions, with a 2-1 (12:22, 19:18, SO 18:16) victory over Team Draco, with Benjamin Gallago scoring the winning points. An impressive 24 points from Spain’s Diogo Ferreira did give the All-star side hope.

The third game was tight with Team Draco, coached by Neukum and Novakovic, able to record a 2-0 win over Team Pegasus thanks to two, one-pointer sets won by their side, while Team Aquila took down the French national team in the final men’s game of the day, 2-0 (21:20, 22:16).

“One up, one down,” said Team Pegasus and USA national team player Ebiye Jeremy after a loss and win on the opening day. “Both games were a testament to the collective level of talent in the showcase, and I’m excited to bounce back tomorrow afternoon for our showdown with France. 

“Outside of my quadruple spin-shot, the coolest thing I witnessed today was from Aquilla’s Domingo Mosquera who received an in-flight pass from Mohamed Zaky on the right-wing and with his right-hand made a perfect no-look behind-the-back pass to Gil Pires. It’s the type of play you love to see in a showcase like this.”

Ebiye also gave IHF.info an insight into how his side, with players and coaches from across the world, have come together for one goal in such as short period of time.

“We actually started a team group chat, including coaches Mladen and Maria, shortly after we found out we’ll be together and that was the start of the rapport as we have some character personalities within the team,” he explained. “Our goalkeeper and youngest player Moritz Ebert (Germany) has been the one leading our cheers going into the games, which I think has boosted his confidence and comfort with the court players. 

“Paris has been spectacular so far; from training with the team, to interacting with athletes and officials from various countries, to doing interviews, to visiting the Eiffel Tower, to having family, friends, and representatives from USA Team Handball fly in for the showcase, it’s all been a dream experience and I’m looking forward to making the most of the remaining games.”

The showcase, being held at the French Handball Federation’s ‘House of Handball’ in Créteil, highlights the spectacular sport of Beach Handball and its culture on the fringes of the Game and is part of a wider series of celebrations based in the Val-de-Marne region of France.

For the duration of the Olympic Games – July 26 to August 11 – a variety of free events will take place, including a fan zone for up to 2,000 people featuring live broadcasts, exhibitions, food, drink and concerts. 

To see the full teams and coaches, visit HERE.

Visit IHF.info for in-depth features and interviews with those involved.

All games are being streamed live and free on the IHF YouTube Competitions Channel.

IHF Beach Handball Showcase

Day 1 Results - Saturday 27 July

Women’s Competition
Team Vela vs Team Hydra 2-0 16:12, 13:12)
Team Lyra vs France 2-1 20:21, 20:13, SO 7:4)
Team Hydra vs Team Lyra 1-2 (20:25, 21:16, SO 6:7)
Team Vela vs France 2-1 (20:24, 26:12, SO 7:6)

Men’s Competition 
Team Aquila vs Team Pegasus 1-2 (18:19, 22:18, SO 4:8)
Team Draco vs France 1-2 (22:12, 18:19, SO 16:18)
Team Pegasus vs Team Draco 0-2 (14:15, 22:23)
Team Aquila vs France 2-0 (21:20, 22:16)

Day 1 Top Scorers
Diogo Ferreira 31 points
Nathalie Sena 28
Asun Batista 26

Day 2 Schedule - Sunday 28 July

Women’s Competition
1200 Team Vela vs Team Lyra
1600 Team Hydra vs France
1800 Team Vela vs Team Hydra
2000 Team Lyra vs France

Men’s Competition 
1100 Team Aquila vs Team Draco
1500 Team Pegasus vs France
1700 Team Aquila vs Team Pegasus
1900 Team Draco vs France

The IHF Beach Handball Showcase is a collaborative effort between the International Handball Federation (IHF), Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP2024), French Handball Federation (FFHB) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Credit photo: Santiago Russo @ Play Handball