Double digits in two games: Andorra’s Ruiz shines at Bulgaria 2023

Andorra are the sixth least populous country in Europe with only 79,000 inhabitants in an area of 467.63 km2. Therefore, the selection area is definitely reduced, even if a sport is popular. And when Andorra faced the most populous country in the world, inhabited by 1.4 billion persons, the demands were even higher.

Nevertheless, Andorra put on a gritty performance against India in a crucial match in the group phase at the 2023 IHF Men's Emerging Nations Championship. Still, it failed to produce a win that would have seen them through to the semi-finals.

Eventually, India took advantage of the reduced size of Andorra's squad – they brought only 10 players to Bulgaria 2023 – and used their superior stamina to take a 26:23 win, seeing Andorra drop out of contention for a place among the top four sides in the competition.

Yet Andorra, which have ensured their best-ever finish at the IHF Men's Emerging Nations Championship after finishing 15th at Kosovo 2015 and 14th at Bulgaria 2017, are clearly on an upward trend, with several players boasting the needed DNA and the know-how to improve their team in the future.

One of them has been Unai Ruiz, the 19-year-old diminutive centre back who has been the fulcrum of Andorra's attack in this competition and the team's catalyst, the player who dictates the tempo and creates every attack.

"Why I took up playing handball? Well, I was with my colleagues in school, and it looked interesting. I have loved it since that moment, and I have never stopped playing it. Now I am in the Andorra senior national team, and I am over the moon with this. I really enjoy being here," says Ruiz.

Enjoying handball might be an understatement for Ruiz, who has been really shining at the 2023 IHF Men's Emerging Nations Championship, becoming the top goal scorer of the competition after two rounds and the only player to have scored in double digits in each game played so far.

Ruiz has scored 21 goals – 11 against Malta and 10 against India – and has helped Andorra secure their second win in history in the competition, 29:27 against Malta, in the first match at Bulgaria 2023. He has also dished three assists, having a direct hand in 24 of Andorra's 52 goals in the competition.

"The feeling is nice, it is true, but I would trade goals for wins here. Unfortunately, we lost against India. I think they were fresher and had an edge in attack, while we could not deliver the goals needed to win the game," adds the 19-year-old centre back, who has impressed with his leadership skills and his quality.

Now, Andorra will have to wait to see if they head to the Placement Matches 5–8 or will play for the 9–12 places, with India facing Malta in the first game on Thursday, in the last round of the group phase.

Nevertheless, Ruiz is happy with his team's progress, being on a clear upward trend, with predesigned attacking plays and a strong defensive system in place. 

This makes the team improve, and this competition is perfect for teams like Andorra to prove their mettle against opponents like Malta or India, with the IHF Men's Emerging Nations Championship being a good battleground.

It is also an exciting international experience for Ruiz, who continues to play handball in Spain at a local team in Barcelona in the lower Spanish leagues. At the same time, the centre back is an orthodontics student in Barcelona, mixing studies with handball.

"What does the future hold? Well, I am focusing on my studies, but I also want my handball career to improve. Currently, I am playing at a small club, but I have ambitions, I want to become a better player, and I am focusing on both things now – studies and sport," says Ruiz.

But if Ruiz's excellent form at the IHF Men's Emerging Nations Championship is to be trusted – and there is no reason why it should be discarded – his future in handball looks very bright.

While Ruiz is only 1.76m tall, his excellent handball IQ and the numbers speak volumes about his talent. And if Andorra can find more players like Ruiz, the future at this stage might be theirs.