The Russia women's national handball team is the national team of the Russian Federation. It is governed by the Handball Federation of Russia and takes part in international handball competitions.
They are as of October 2021, together with its predecessor the USSR team, the only handball women's team in the world, to have won the World Championship three consecutive times. (Denmarks men's team equalled the record in 2023). Overall, the team won three medals at the Olympics, with a gold on 2016, five medals at the World Championships, with four of them gold, and four medals at the European Championships, with two silvers in 2006 and 2018.
In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Handball Federation banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, and the European Handball Federation suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus, as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions.[1] Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities,[1] and new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.[1]
History
1993–1999: Instability
The Russian women's national handball team was formed in 1993, succeeding the Soviet Union women's national handball team, one of the strongest teams in the world. Notwithstanding the third place at the 1992 Summer Olympics as the Unified Team, Russia could not qualify for the Olympic Games in the following eight years.[2]
In late 1999, Tarasikov was replaced by Evgeny Trefilov, the club coach of Lada. He introduced younger players to the national team and concentrated more on national club players. At the 2000 European Championship, Russia became bronze medalists.[2]
Against the backgrounds of those victories, Team Russia became 4th at the 2002 European Championship in Denmark, and a year later at the World Championship in Croatia they became only 7th, which meant that Trefilov's team could not qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. Only one point was needed to reach the semi-finals in Croatia, but Russia failed to do that against France in the group stage, losing 19–20; a draw would have been enough to qualify.[citation needed]
Russia lost in the final of the 2006 European Championship to Norway, and so could not directly qualify for the Olympics; however, Russia rematched Norway at the 2007 World Championship in France in the final. A number of top handball players such as Lyudmila Bodnieva, MVP of the previous World championships and member of the All-Star Team at the 2000 and 2006 European championships, Irina Bliznova, who was injured in the group stage, Natalya Shipilova, who could not compete in the semi-finals. Goal keeper Inna Suslina made a great game, saving three out of five penalties. Russia won 29–24.[5]
Norway returned the favour at the 2008 Olympics in the gold medal game. Already in the early stage leading ten balls, the Vikings hindered the Russians coming back, and so Russia lost 34–27. Russia won silver.[6]
The Russians defeated the Norwegians in the semi-final of the 2009 World Championship with a score of 28–20. In the final, Russia claimed the gold medal by defeating France, 25–22.[citation needed]
2009–2013: Decline and Retirement of Trefilov
After the 2009 World Championships, team Russia saw a number of disappointing results. They became 7th at the 2010 European Championship and 6th at the 2011 World Championship. Russia could not get beyond the quarterfinal of the 2012 Olympics, losing there to South Korea. After the London Olympics, the new head coach became Vitaly Krokhin.[citation needed]
On 16 September 2013, Evgeny Trefilov returned as head coach.[11] He debuted at the 2014 European Championship, but Russia became a dreadful 14th, the worst ever result in the European championships. However, on 7 and 13 June 2015, Russia twice defeated Germany in the playoffs and qualified for the 2015 World Championship. In their first match they defeated the Norwegians, 26–25.[12] However, the Russians only reached the quarterfinals, losing there to Poland. In the playoffs, team Russia was placed 5th.[13]
Russia qualified to the Olympics for the third time, through the qualification tournament taking place from 18 to 20 March 2016 in Astrakhan. In the group stage of the Olympic tournament, Russia defeated all of its rivals. In the knockout stage, the Russians defeated Angola in the quarterfinal, and in the marathon semi-final match between Norway claimed the deciding point in overtime. In the final, Russia defeated France to claim its first Olympic gold in women's handball.[14][15]
At the 2018 European Championships, the last time under the guidance of Trefilov, Russia broke through the final for the first time since 2006. Russia lost to host France, who took its first championship title.[citation needed]
2019–20: Ambros Martin as new head coach
In August 2019, national team's head coach Trefliov was replaced by Rostov-Don's Ambros Martin. Trefilov took the post as vice-president of the Handball Federation of Russia.[16] Team Russia entered the 2019 World Championships as the main favourite. The squad, primarily including 20 players, was reduced to 18 players; injured Antonina Skorobogatchenko and alternate Olga Shcherbak were dismissed.[17] The Russian team, after winning eight matches in a row was eventually defeated by the Dutch in the semi-finals by a one-point difference, which happened after a last-minute shot in the second half, leaving a final result of 32–33 for Russia against the Netherlands.[18] Russia went on to win the bronze match against Norway, 33–28; this was the first time since 2009 that the Russians won a medal at the Worlds.[citation needed]
Russia went to the 2020 Europeans with less optimism; three injured top players – Elena Mikhaylichenko, Anna Sen and Anna Viakhireva – had to skip the championships; reduced team practice sessions of only one week, for the first time taking place in a sports school hall; missing test matches due to the worldwide situation imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak.[19] Russia started well on the Championships, finishing first in its group in the preliminary round. In the main round, the Russians defeated Montenegro, played a draw match against France and lost against Denmark. As a result, they did not qualify for the semifinals. Martin decided to retire from his position as head coach, expressing his will to focus on family life instead.[20]
2021: Alekseyev replaces Martin
After Martin retired in December 2020, Lada's Alexey Alekseyev, who previously served as assistant coach for the national team and was the head coach of Luch, replaced the Spaniard. Furthermore, the coaching staff was renewed, now featuring former handball player Olga Akopyan and Rostov-Don's assistant coach Tomáš Hlavatý. Also, Trefilov took the position as consultant.[21] Prior to the Tokyo's 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed to July–August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, team Russia went through the Hungarian leg of the qualification tournament, which took place Győr. Two of four participating teams were granted a ticket to the upcoming Olympics. Russia won all three matches against Serbia, Kazakhstan and Hungary.[22][23]
The squad for the Olympics was announced on 2 June.[24] Prior to the Olympics, on 26 June Russia played a friendly match against the Netherlands in Japan.[25] A week later they played another friendly match, losing a second time to the Dutch team.[26] Goalkeeper Anastasia Lagina and outside left Daria Samokhina were named alternates.[27] The team lost its opening Olympic match to Sweden, then drew Hungary, and after that went on a five-match winning streak all the way to the gold medal game, beating Norway in the semi-finals by one point, just as they did in 2016. And just as in 2016, Russia faced France in the final. This time, the French prevailed, 30–25, but Russia won silver, its third Olympic medal after Soviet collapse.[citation needed]
On 23 September 2021, Lyudmila Bodniyeva was announced as the team's new head coach, after Alekseyev's contract ran out.[28]
2022: Suspension from international competition
In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Handball Federation banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, and the European Handball Federation suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions.[1] Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities,[1] and new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.[1]
Results
Russia women's national handball team at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Several Russian players have seen their individual performance recognized at international tournaments, either as Most Valuable Player, best defense player or as a member of the All-Star Team.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) is the umbrella organisation for European handball. Founded on 17 November 1991, it is made of 50 member federations and two associated federations, and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
The Russia national handball team is controlled by the Handball Federation of Russia. Russia is designates by IHF and EHF.
The Denmark women's national handball team is the national team of Denmark. It is governed by the Danish Handball Federation (DHF).
The Sweden women's national handball team is the national team of Sweden. It is governed by the Swedish Handball Federation and takes part in international handball competitions.
The Norway women's national handball team represents Norway at international handball competitions, and is governed by the Norges Håndballforbund (NHF). As of 2024, Norway has been in 26 finals and is regarded as one of the finest women's national handball teams ever, with 33 medals.
The France women's national handball team is the national team of France. It is governed by the French Handball Federation and takes part in international handball competitions.
Yevgeni Vasilyevich Trefilov is a former handball head coach of the Russian women's national team. He has led the Russian team to win the IHF World Women's Handball Championship four times, in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009. He rejoined the national team on 16 September 2013. Under his supervision, Russia won the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The Serbia women's national handball team represents Serbia in international women’s handball. It is governed by the Handball Federation of Serbia and takes part in international handball competitions.
Heidi Løke is a Norwegian handball player for Larvik HK and formerly the Norwegian national team.
Yulia Anatolyevna Managarova is a Russian handballer for Rostov-Don and the Russian national team.
Kelly Dulfer is a Dutch handball player for Győri ETO KC and the Dutch national team.
Anna Viktorovna Vyakhireva is a Russian female professional handballer, who plays for French club Brest Bretagne Handball and the Russian national team.
Estelle Nze Minko is a French professional handball player for Győri ETO KC and the French national team.
This article shows the rosters of all participating teams at the women's handball tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Galychanka – women's handball club from Lviv, Ukraine. Established in 1989.
Kristine Breistøl is a Norwegian handball player for Győri ETO KC and the Norwegian national team.
Henny Ella Reistad is a Norwegian professional handball player for Team Esbjerg and the Norwegian national team.
The following is a list of squads for each nation competing at the 2018 European Women's Handball Championship.
The Russian Women's Handball Super Cup is a trophy that is played at the beginning of each season between the champion of Russia of the previous season and the winner of the Russian Cup of the previous season. If the champion and the Cup holder are the same team, then the Cup finalist plays with the champion. The trophy is held by the Russian Handball Federation and consists of one match. The trophy was played for the first time in 2014. Currently, the title sponsor of the tournament is the Olympus bookmaker, having replaced the VKontakte social network in 2018.
Viktoriya Viktorovna Divak was a Russian handball player who played in the Russian Women's Handball Super League for several years.
1 2 3 "Из того, что было"[From what was there] (in Russian). Sports.ru. 18 December 2000. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Georgy Kudinov (18 December 2001). "Русские женщины умеют делать подарки"[Russian women can bring offerings] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Elena Rerikh; Vladimir Yurinov (19 December 2005). "Русский хоровод"[Russian round dance] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Natalya Kuzina (17 December 2007). "Какие же золотые у них руки!"[They have such golden hands!] (in Russian). Sovyetsky Sport. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Vladimir Mozhaytsev (15 December 2008). "В Македонии родилась новая сборная России"[A new team was born in Macedonia] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ "Чемпионат мира впервые пройдёт без нас"[The World Championship will be without us for the first time] (in Russian). Handball Federation of Russia. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Anastasia Bogdanova (16 September 2013). "Король Треф"[King Tref] (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
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