The 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship is the first-ever to be co-hosted by three countries – Denmark, Norway and Sweden – and the 26th edition of the world handball flagship competition will bring another maiden award, which aims to reward the best young player in the competition.

The “Best Young Player Powered by Lidl” is the new award which will be presented to the best young player aged Under-21 at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, underlining the common values shared by the International Handball Federation (IHF) and its Official Fresh Food Partner, Lidl, in creating a path for the top young talent to be nurtured and developed.

Lidl has been a strong backer of handball as a sport and a long-time partner of the International Handball Federation, with the first appearance being at the 2017 IHF Men’s World Championship. This is the first time the company has become a partner for an edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship, marking its approach with the introduction of the new award for the best young player in the competition.

As the “Official Fresh Food Partner” for the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, Lidl understands the importance of forging one’s path to the top, as the journey from the bottom to the top being, in itself, the most important part of the story.

Each and every edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship has remained witness to the exploits of a young player who shined and went on to become a transitional talent over the course of the next decades in handball.

Eight players have been nominated for the “Best Young Player Powered by Lidl” award, in a process which was carefully considered by the IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods (CCM), with the winner being announced after the final of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

Charlotte Cholevová (Czechia)

The 21-year-old left back has been nothing short of superb for Czechia. After being the joint top scorer at the 2022 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, Cholevová has also shined at her second edition of the world handball flagship competition, helping her side clinch a place in the quarter-finals.

With 35 goals and a 65% shooting efficiency, Czechia’s left back ranks 10th in the top goal scorer standings, being her team’s second best scorer, after Marketa Jerabkova. Cholevová projects to be one of the top backs in the game in the future, as her performance from Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023 just confirmed her huge potential.

Viola Leuchter (Germany)

At only 19 years old, Leuchter is one of the youngest players at this edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship, and has featured in all six of Germany’s matches in the competition so far. Sharing the right back position with Maren Weigel, she is already one of Germany’s top scorers in the competition, with 15 goals.

A tall and commanding player, with a powerful shot, Leuchter might be Germany’s next right back for a decade, as she also dished seven assists, proving already a huge handball IQ and a brimming potential.

Julie Mathiesen Scaglione (Denmark)

The All-Star left back and the top goal scorer of the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship has made her debut at a senior major competition and provided some flashes of brilliance in several moments. Still 19 years old, Scaglione is definitely the future of the Denmark women’s national team, proving her worth even in tough conditions.

Scaglione featured so far in five matches for Denmark, scoring nine goals and dishing two assists, as she earns crucial experience for the future in such an important competition.

Lena Grandveau (France)

The 20-year-old centre back has been long touted as one of the best young players in the France system and she looks like she came of age at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where she was entrusted with a crucial role by coach Olivier Krumbholz.

Grandveau has not disappointed, featuring 144 minutes for France in the first six matches, with 11 goals and seven assists, while also drawing seven penalties for her team. With three steals and one block, Grandveau is also crucial in defence for France, as her potential was highlighted at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023.

Nina Koppang (Sweden)

A right back who can also play as a right wing, made her debut in Sweden’s national team in 2021 and this is her maiden edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship, as the Scandinavian side continues to deliver exciting new young players into the fold.

So far, she scored six goals and dished one assist in the matches played at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023 and can be relied upon in various positions on the court, as her versatility enables her to help her side, with Sweden being one of the three teams with a perfect record after the main round.

Maja Furu Saeteren (Norway)

Norway are also a side who is thinking about the future and Furu Saeteren is just another player who can become key for the Scandinavian side in the future. The All-Star left back of the Norwegian league last season, she was also a key player in Norway’s squad which won the 2022 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

At Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, Furu Saeteren is making her debut at the IHF Women’s World Championship and she has already scored 11 goals in five matches, while also providing three assists in 32 minutes on the court so far.

Lysa Tchaptchet Defo (Spain)

Tchaptchet will turn 22 years old on 20 December, but she is already a mainstay in Spain’s squad, having featured 34 times for “Las Guerreras” so far. Coming of age at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, the line player has been nothing short of superb, delivering some excellent performances, both in attack and in defence.

Tchaptchet has scored 13 goals, drew 10 penalties and blocked two shots in Spain’s six matches, being used 187 minutes on the court by coach Ambros Martin. A hugely talented player, the 21-year-old Spain line player will likely become the first-choice player on her position in the future.

Olivia Lykke Nygaard (Norway)

With a strong core of goalkeepers, featuring Katrine Lunde, Silje Solberg or Marie Davidsen, Norway have also thought a bit about the future, as Lykke Nygaard made her debut at a major international competition here, at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023.

In two matches, in the preliminary round, Lykke Nygaard has saved 10 shots from the 16 she faced, boasting an impressive 55.5% saving efficiency, which ranks second throughout the competition, just behind Sweden’s Irma Schjött. After just turning 22 in September, Lykke Nygaard projects to be the future of Norway’s team, with some impressive skills.