The five BVB women’s handballers who are currently away with their national teams all tasted victory on Thursday and Friday, recording three friendly wins in total. The Netherlands, whose squad includes Yara ten Holte and Zoë Sprengers, clearly and comfortably beat the Czech Republic 37-29 (16-16) on the first day of the Golden League.

Goalkeeper ten Holte kept goal in the opening 30 minutes of that match, while Sprengers came on at the break and played the full second half. The left-winger also found the net on several occasions in the process. The 2019 world champions will next be in action on Saturday when they take on Norway, before then facing Denmark on Sunday. 

Then, on Friday, Alina Grijseels and Lisa Antl were in action for the German national team. The DHB ladies ran out 26-20 (11-9) winners in front of around 3,300 spectators in Ludwigsburg. Captain Alina Grijseels was the top scorer with six goals – including three seven-metre throws – while Lisa Antl was on target three times.

Another player who tasted victory was Sara Garovic, who made her first appearance for the Serbian national team in some time. The left-hander scored once in the narrow win over Croatia (21-20). There will be a second showdown between the two neighbours on Saturday lunchtime at 12:00 CET. Germany have a day’s rest, before facing off against Poland in Heidelberg on Sunday (throw-off 15:00 CET).

Photo: Marco Wolf