The Malta Women’s Beach Handball National Team returned from Hungary last weekend after competing in the EBT Lupa Beach Cup, held at Lake Lupa Premium Beach in Budakalász.

The tournament formed part of the third qualifying weekend of the OBI National Beach Handball Championship and was an official event on the European Beach Handball Tour (EBT), one of Europe’s leading beach handball competitions. Featuring some of the continent’s strongest men’s and women’s teams, the event offered Malta another valuable opportunity to test themselves against high-calibre opposition.

Although Malta were unable to register a victory, the team delivered several spirited performances, pushing higher-ranked opponents all the way in a number of closely contested matches. Their displays underlined the progress being made as they continue to narrow the gap on Europe’s more established nations.

Head coach Daniel Tanti Farrugia was encouraged by his team’s performances despite the results.

“The results weren’t what we hoped for, but the performance level gives me real confidence,” he said.

“We were competitive in our matches and the girls showed they can hold their own against experienced European opposition. Every minute we spend competing at this level is invaluable as we continue building towards the Mediterranean Beach Games.”

Malta Handball Association president Vladimiro Comodini also highlighted the importance of competing in high-level international tournaments as part of the association’s long-term development strategy.

“Participating in events such as the EBT Lupa Beach Cup is a cornerstone of our development programme,” Comodini said.

“We are investing heavily in our women’s beach handball programme with the clear objective of delivering a strong performance at next year’s Mediterranean Beach Games. Experiences like this are essential in preparing the team for that challenge, and I am proud of the players’ commitment and determination throughout the tournament.”

The Mediterranean Beach Games remain the Malta Handball Association’s primary target for the national women’s beach handball programme, with the team set to continue its international preparations through further training camps and competitive tournaments in the coming months.