To celebrate the gradual return to handball action in Tunisia following the pause due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Tunisian Handball Federation (FTHB) recently held two women’s beach handball competitions.

The home of the African women’s beach handball continental champions saw a one-day FTHB Women’s Beach Handball Championship take place on Saturday 8 August and a special cup tournament played on Thursday 13 August to celebrate the public holiday of Tunisia’s ‘Women’s Day’.

Women’s National Beach Handball Championship

Ezzahra Beach, south-east of capital city Tunis, hosted the 2020 FTHB Women’s Beach Handball Championship which featured six teams: Ezzahra Sport Handball, Association de Mannouba, Espoir Sportif de Bizerte, Association Sportive Féminine de Manzel Temime, Megrine Sports Beach Handball and Association Sportive de Zaghouan.

At the request of the Tunisian Beach Handball Committee, all teams were required to have two players in their squad born in 2006/07, who were planned to be part of the U17 national team as they prepared for the now-postponed 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

The preliminary round saw the teams split between two groups with each team playing each other once and the top two in each going through to the semi-finals. 

Association Sportive Féminine de Manzel Temime won their last four match against Association Sportive de Zaghouan 2-0, while Megrine Sports Beach Handball – featuring a number of national team players – overcame Espoir Sportif de Bizerte by the same score as the two sides booked their place in the final.

After a pause for Iftar which also featured two performances – the Zahra Youth House Musical Show and World Music Star Art Show – the semi-finals were played and then placement matches, before the final medal matches. An exhibition beach match was also played for younger players.

The final was a tight affair with Association Sportive Féminine de Manzel Temime beating Megrine Sports Beach Handball via shoot-out, 2-1. Espoir Sportif de Bizerte took bronze via shoot-out, defeating Association Sportive de Zaghouan 2-1.

FTHB President Mourad Mestiri who was in attendance throughout the day, presented the first-place trophy to Myriam Khiari, goalkeeper of the winning Manzel team.

Every participant – players, officials, coaches and referees – in attendance was subjected to the strict enforcement of health protocols put in place by the FTHB, with the Red Crescent on hand to take temperatures using infrared thermometers amongst other preventative measures, ensuring the safety of all.

Final Ranking
1    Association Sportive Féminine de Manzel Temime 
2    Megrine Sports Beach Handball
3    Espoir Sportif de Bizerte
4    Association Sportive de Zaghouan 
5    Ezzahra Sport Handball  
6    Association de Mannouba

The men’s beach handball championship was cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and indoor league restart.

Tunisia Women’s Day Celebration

The FTHB also head a special beach handball cup event to celebrate Tunisia’s ‘Women's Day’.

Separate to the global International Women’s Day (IWD) which is celebrated every year on 8 March, Tunisia’s Women's Day is held on 13 August and celebrates and commemorates a series of women's rights in Tunisian law that were established within the Code of Personal Status on 13 August 1956 to address gender equality in the North African nation.

The tournament was held 350km south of Ezzahra Beach, in Gabes, towards the south of the country – the first time a beach competition was held in the region, ensuring the FTHB’s aim to promote the sport across all regions.

Mednine, Gabes and the U17 Teboulbou side competed in the tournament, with each team playing each other once in a group format and the top two playing off in the final. In hot conditions, Mednine eventually prevailed, taking home the trophy after defeating Gabes in a day which celebrated women’s handball.

Final Ranking
1 Mednine
2 Gabes
3 Teboulbou (U17)

For further information, follow the FTHB via their official website and their Facebook page.

Photos: Atef Ammari/FTHB