Just once have Bulgaria appeared at an IHF Beach Handball World Championship – and what a global debut it was for the European nation.

In 2006, their women’s senior side qualified for the IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Brazil and they just missed out on a podium spot, losing to Russia in the bronze medal match.

Senegalese women’s handball is no stranger to IHF World Championships in recent years with representation in both senior and youth events.

However, when their women’s youth beach handball team take to Hammamet sand on the opening day for their 1730 (local time) clash against Hungary, they will become not only the first beach handball team to represent their country in a world championship, but the first in either gender.