Malta’s Beach Handball National Teams produced their strongest collective performance to date at the prestigious Calise Cup, marking another significant milestone in the Malta Handball Association’s ongoing development programme. Just three years after making their debut in the competition, both national teams recorded their best-ever finishes, highlighting the remarkable progress achieved on the international stage.
Ahead of the tournament, both squads fine-tuned their preparations through a series of high-quality friendly matches. The Women’s team faced Slovakia and Brazil’s Niterói Rugby FC Handbol, while the Men’s squad tested themselves against the Italian National Team and Niterói Rugby FC Handbol. These encounters provided valuable experience and proved ideal preparation for the challenges ahead.
Men’s National Team Secure Historic 9th Place Finish
Malta’s Men opened their campaign in impressive fashion on Friday evening with a convincing 2–0 victory over Italy’s Colosseum Handball B in Group B. Dominant performances in both sets (16–14, 24–14) gave Malta an early boost and set the tone for the remainder of the competition.
Saturday presented a demanding schedule. Malta first faced Latvian side Melluzhi Jurmala, who would eventually finish as tournament runners-up. The Maltese side pushed their opponents all the way in a highly competitive opening set before narrowly losing 20–22. The Latvians then claimed the second set 22–11 to secure a 2–0 victory. Despite the defeat, the closely contested first set demonstrated the significant strides Malta has made in recent years.
The team then took on Brazilian powerhouse Niterói Rugby FC Handbol, one of the most decorated clubs in world beach handball and a qualifier for the EBT Finals. Although Malta fell 2–0 (8–26, 22–27), competing strongly against opposition of such calibre was itself a testament to the squad’s growing competitiveness.
Malta responded impressively, defeating Handball Mascalucia (ITA) 2–1 before securing another 2–1 victory over Colosseum Handball A (ITA), results that confirmed their place in the classification rounds.
In the 9th-place play-off, Malta faced Beach Handball Tilburg (NED) and delivered another composed performance, winning both sets 20–14 and 22–20 to secure a historic 9th-place finish — their highest-ever placing at the Calise Cup.
Women’s National Team Finish 6th and Claim Fair Play Award
Malta’s Women’s National Team also enjoyed a highly successful tournament, producing several encouraging performances against strong international opposition.
Their opening Group B fixture against Beach Handball Tilburg (NED) saw Malta dominate from start to finish, recording a comprehensive 2–0 victory with set scores of 23–10 and 22–10. The margin of victory was significantly greater than when the two sides met at last year’s tournament, underlining the team’s continued development.
Later on Friday, Malta faced Olympia Beach Handball (GBR). Despite a determined display, they were defeated 2–0, with sets ending 16–8 and 18–12.
The group stage concluded on Saturday against Portuguese side GRD Leca-Lovetiles, one of the strongest teams in the competition. Malta battled hard in the opening set before narrowly losing 26–22, while the Portuguese side claimed the second set 27–14.
Advancing to the classification matches for positions 5–8, Malta faced Nicosia Beach Handball (CYP) and suffered a 2–0 defeat (24–14, 26–19). However, they finished the tournament on a high note, defeating Colosseum Handball Women (ITA) 2–0 in a highly entertaining contest. Malta won the first set 21–16 before edging a thrilling second set 27–26 to secure an excellent 6th-place finish overall.
The Women’s team’s conduct throughout the tournament earned widespread admiration, culminating in the presentation of the coveted Fair Play Award. The recognition reflects not only the players’ sportsmanship on the sand but also the values that continue to define Malta’s handball community.
Continued Development Beyond the Tournament
Following the conclusion of the official competition, both national teams remained in Gaeta to maximise further development opportunities.
The players participated in a mini international tournament alongside the Australian and Latvian National Teams, providing additional high-level match experience and valuable international exposure.
The Women’s squad also took part in a joint training session with GRD Leca-Lovetiles, highlighting the collaborative spirit that characterises the international beach handball community and Malta’s commitment to continuous improvement.
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