Georgia: The Georgian national handball team has achieved a historic feat by qualifying for their first European Men’s Championship, which will take place in Hungary and Slovakia in 2024.
The team secured their spot by defeating Hungary 31:30 in a thrilling match on Sunday, finishing among the top four third-place finishers of the qualifying stage.
The team, coached by Tite Kalandadze, showed great determination and skill throughout the qualifying campaign, beating teams like Romania, Portugal and Switzerland. The team also boasts some talented players, such as Giorgi Tskhovrebadze, who plays for German club VfL Gummersbach, and Nikoloz Kalandadze, who plays for French club Chambéry Savoie Mont-Blanc Handball.
The team will face a tough challenge in the group stage of the European Championship, as they will play against Sweden, Netherlands, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
The first match will be held on January 11 against the Netherlands, which is taking part in the European Championship for the second time. The team hopes to make a good impression and gain valuable experience at the continental level.
The Georgian National Handball Federation (GNHF), founded in 1956, has expressed its pride and support for the team and thanked the fans for their encouragement. The GNHF has also hosted several international championships, such as the 2019 IHF Emerging Nations Championship and the 2017 Men’s Youth World Handball Championship, both held in Tbilisi.
The team’s achievement has been widely celebrated in Georgia, as handball is one of the most popular sports in the country. The team has also received congratulations from various public figures, such as the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister of Georgia, and the Georgian National Olympic Committee.
The team’s motto is “Our, ” reflecting their unity and spirit. The team’s fans look forward to cheering them on at the European Championship. They hope they will continue to make history and inspire future generations of handball players in Georgia.