TEAMS from England and Scotland are in Gothenburg, Sweden, preparing to take part in the 40th edition of one of the world’s biggest handball tournaments, the Partille Cup.
Beginning today (Wednesday), the event goes on until Sunday and has attracted almost 1,000 teams from around 50 different countries.
England teams will play in both the boys and girls Under-16 events, and are attending as part of the event’s special Olympic Solidarity Project, which encourages teams from countries where handball is not a major sport to come along and take part. As well as England, teams from India, America, China, Benin, Gabon and Nigeria are also present as part of the scheme.
Three Scottish teams are also taking part - Tryst Under-16 girls, Tryst Under-18 boys and Gracemount Under-13 boys - as well as the Great Britain Men’s Under-21 side.
The England squads’ every move will be recorded by analyst Wayne Lang, whose thoughts were recorded on the Partille Cup website.
“We are going to meet players who have been playing the sport since they were seven years old. Our teams are here to watch and learn and to try out the new things they have learnt during the week.
”But England is on their way and handball wins new ground slowly but surely.
”Handball is up to an exciting future. And maybe the English national team in handball win a World Championship gold before the national football team does!”
All the British teams at Partille will play at least five group games, before moving on to the knockout stages at the weekend.
For more information about fixtures and results, go to
www.partillecup.com/eng
