Australian junior beach handball squads win through to World Championships

IT might be played on the sand by the surf, but beach handball is a serious sport — and the Maroubra-based Australian junior teams have made it to the World Championships.

The Australian under 17’s girls and boys beach handball squads have won through to the World Championships being held in Mauritius in July. Picture: Danny Aarons.

IT MIGHT be played on the sand by the surf, but beach handball is a serious sport — and now the Maroubra-based Australian junior teams have won through to next month’s World Championships.

The boys’ under 17’s team took out top honours at the Oceania qualifier in the Cook Islands last month, while the girls’ squad made it through after finishing second in their division.

The squads are this week’s Local Sports Stars nominees in the Junior Sports Star — Teams category.

The boys under-17s junior Australian beach handball squad after its win. Picture: Supplied.

Australian junior beach handball squad manager and Olympic European handball player Allira Hudson-Gofers said they worked hard for their victory.

“They prepared for the tournament really well — the boys went undefeated, the girls started well and even though we had a couple of injuries in the team, they overcame it to qualify,” she said.

“They knew before the finals that they were going to go to the world championships which was nice, and took a little bit of pressure off,” he said.

“They were all so happy and I had to get them to knuckle back down and concentrate because they both still had to play a final.”

The under-17s junior girls Australian beach handball squad on the Cook Islands. Picture: Supplied.

Beach handball pits two teams of three, up to four substitutes and a goal keeper against each other on a sand court.

Using a non-slip rubber ball, players try to score regular goals worth one point, or attractive or spectacular goals worth two points, to claim the most number of match points.

The players have now returned to their schedule of training every Saturday and Sunday at Maroubra beach, and Hudson-Gofers said the cold snap was making it more challenging.

“It’s getting tougher as it gets colder ... it’s nice to be at the beach on a sunny afternoon but as the temperatures drop, it’s a different story!” he said.

The under-17s squads are hoping a win at the World Championships will help secure the sport a berth at the 2018 Gold Coast Youth Commonwealth Games. Picture: Danny Aarons.

“That shows their commitment — we still get all of the squad turning up every weekend, running around in the wind on the beach.”

Their focus is taking on the best beach handball players from around the world at the championships in Mauritius next month.

“I think it’s going to be tough — it’s the kind of pressure the kids aren’t used to,” Hudson-Gofers said.

“The competition is divided into four groups and the top three from each pool go through to the main round, so our first goal is to beat the other Oceania teams and qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

“If we can do that we have passed the first hurdle, then we just have to wait and see which Australian sports will be selected to go to the Games.”

The Australian junior beach handball squad is looking for sponsors, and is holding a fundraising dinner on June 24 at the Novotel, Brighton-Le-Sands.

Tickets are $60 with lots of raffles and prizes on offer on the night, including holidays, signed player jerseys and boxing memorabilia.

To book a place for the fundraiser visit ticketebo.com.au/beachhandball.