Ekaterinodar successfully defend title at Champions Cup
Ekaterinodar successfully defend title at Champions Cup
At the end of the EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup 2015, BHC-SKKM Ekaterinodar on Sunday found themselves on the exact same position they had stood one year - at the top of the podium.
The Russian team from Krasnodar were by far the tournament's dominating force in the men's event, winning all of their eight matches, not even losing a single set. In the final Team Sweden put up a good fight but eventually went down 21:18 and 15:14.
"We are very happy. We defended our title and it has not been easy to get here," said Ekaterinodar's Roman Kalashnikov, who scored the impressive amount of 20 points in the game.
"We had a dream and we fought for it, now it came true. This victory will help us to advertise beach handball in Russia, where it does not have a huge followship."
The Polish team BHT Auto Forum Petra Plock came third following a 2:1 win against Detono Zagreb in the bronze medal match.
In the women's event defending champions Skrim Kongsberg from Norway had to bury their hopes for a successful title defence when they lost 0:2 against Multichem Szentendrei NKE.
However, they might find some small consolation in the fact that they lost against the eventual winners, as Szentendrei beat BHT Piotrkowianin Juko Piotrków Trybunalski from Poland 2:1 to lift the coveted championship plate.
"We are completely happy right now. It is the first time that a Hungarian Team win the Champions Cup. Another Hungarian team reached the semifinals so we are entirely pleased right now," said Szentendrei's Fruzsina Kretz.
Kongsberg eventually finished third after beating OVB-Beach Girls 2:0.
All-star teams named
Following the end of the tournament the all-stars for both events were named. In the men's competition three out of for awards went to Ekaterinodar.
Roman Kalashnikov became the tournament's top scorer with 143 points. His teammate Roman Valyakin was voted best goalkeeper and the entire team also won the Fair Play Award.
The prize for the Most Valuable Player went to Jesper Knutsson from Team Sweden.
In the women's event Kongsberg's Ingvild Bakkerud was the top scorer with 135 points. Marta Lyszczyk from Piotrków Trybunalski was named MVP.
Szentendrei's Agnes Györi became the best goalkeeper, while the Beachqueens from Switzerland won the Fair Play Award.
