The Malta Women’s Beach Handball National Team returned from Budapest following a highly productive campaign at the EBT Lupa Beach Cup, held on the shores of Lake Lupa Premium Beach in Budakalász, Hungary [16 July 2026].

The prestigious tournament served as the third qualification weekend of the OBI National Beach Handball Championship and marked an official stop on the European Beach Handball Tour (EBT), one of the continent’s premier beach handball circuits. Played directly on the sand in a high-energy, elite environment, the event featured top-tier women’s and men’s divisions, with points counting toward both domestic Hungarian rankings and continental tour standings.

Narrow Margins and Rapid Growth

The Maltese athletes pushed hard in every fixture, forcing several matches down to the wire against higher-ranked European opposition. While the final results did not fall Malta’s way, the narrow margins told a different story—one of a rapidly improving squad closing the international gap and refusing to be outclassed on the big stage.

Head Coach Daniel Tanti Farrugia found plenty of positives in the team’s display:

“The results weren’t what we hoped for, but the performance level gives me real confidence,” stated Tanti Farrugia. “We were competitive in our matches and the girls showed they can hold their own against experienced European opposition. Every minute of play at this level is exactly what we need as we build towards the Mediterranean Beach Games.”

Building for the Mediterranean Beach Games

Malta Handball Association (MHA) President Vladimiro Comodini echoed the coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the long-term vision of the national beach handball programme.

“Competing in events like the EBT Lupa Beach Cup is a cornerstone of our development strategy,” Comodini explained. “We are investing in our women’s programme with a clear goal — to put in a strong performance at the Mediterranean Beach Games next year, and weekends like this one are an essential part of that journey. I’m proud of the team’s commitment and determination.”

The Mediterranean Beach Games represent the ultimate target for the MHA’s beach handball initiative. The national women’s squad will continue their intensive international preparation and training camps in the months ahead.

The MHA President concluded by expressing his gratitude to SportMalta, VisitMalta, and the Maltese Olympic Committee for their invaluable, continued support, noting that international participation at this level would be impossible without their backing.