2008 will be earmarked as the year of the women’s national handball team’s official debut in the international handball arena.

Maltese handball will be represented for the first time in the fifth edition of the European Handball Federation Women’s Challenge Trophy which will be held in Larnaca, Cyprus from the 26 to 30 March.

Preparations for this tournament have been going on for the past year with regular training sessions being held at the University Sports Hall. As part of the preparation the team had also taken part in the Interamnia World Cup in Teramo, Italy in July 2007. There, the team competed in the club team category placing fourth in its group.

The Challenge Trophy will host eight national teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Great Britain, Israel, Cyprus and Malta. The tournament will see two groups. Malta will play in Group A together with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland and Israel. Placement matches will follow after the group matches have been completed.

The Maltese contingent, formed by 14 players and three officials has now left the island. The team is composed of Agius Marylyn, Barry Yvonne, Bonello Rebecca, Camilleri Brenda, Camilleri Stephanie, Cumbo Daniela, Debattista Roslyn, Desjardins Stephanie, Farrugia Francesca, Farrugia Maxlene, Friggieri Mathilde, Micallef Louise, Tabone Doriane and Vassallo Bernardette.

Mr Orlando Bonnici and Ms Margaret Mercieca are the national coach and team manager respectively. The contingent will be headed by MHA Vice-President Mr. Clyde Borg Conti.