Only the sky seems to be the limit for the Danish prodigy

Only the sky seems to be the limit for the Danish prodigy

The will to win is one of the main forces that drive Danish key player Kristina Jørgensen ahead of the Women's 19 EHF EURO.

“Considering the fact that we became Under-17 European champions two years ago, I think we have a very good chance to win again this time.”

Kristina Jørgensen, left back in the Danish team, leaves no doubt she is confident ahead of the Women’s 19 EHF EURO in Slovenia from 27 July to 6 August.

“Of course, Russia will probably be a tough challenge again, and some of the other nations have also improved lately. It will be interesting to see Montenegro and Slovenia in our own group. I think those teams are better than the last time we saw them,” Jørgensen says.

Confidence characterises the 19-year-old back court player, who is joining Viborg HK from Skanderborg Håndbold this summer.

Heine Eriksen, coach of Denmark’s Under-19 team, does not have to think long before finding other words to fittingly describe one of his absolute key players.

Physical strength and huge will to win

“Kristina possesses enormous physical strength for her age and a huge will to win. The fact that she already has a whole season in the Danish top flight competition behind her gives a lot of experience to add to the qualities I already mentioned,” Eriksen says.

“She may have played in the team which finished last in the league and was relegated, but she still gathered invaluable experience from which our team can benefit now.”

Eriksen hails Jørgensen for being “equally good at both ends of the court” due to her physical strength.

“She is great in the central defence, while she is also an asset in the attack. Of course, she is not a complete handball player yet; no player is complete at the age of 19. However, she already has a great shot and she is very good one against one.”

Jørgensen agrees with much of what her coach says about her.

“I play handball to have fun and to win. Handball is more fun when you win, and my will to win has always been very clear,” she says.

“It is true that I got plenty of experience in the Danish league last season, but some of the players from the other nations have also got quite a lot of senior handball experience already. So I will probably not be able to benefit from that experience against them all.”

Big step forward in her career

Jørgensen is taking a big step forward in her career this summer when she leaves Skanderborg for Viborg HK, giving her further international experience by playing in the EHF Cup in the upcoming season.

“I expect to gain a lot from training with players who will all be above my level, and of course, playing in Europe will also add to my experience,” she says.

“I realise that I am not going to get nearly as much court time in Viborg as I did in Skanderborg, but I am sure that the training and the experience I am going to get will compensate more than enough for that.”

According coach Eriksen, only the sky seems to be the limit for Jørgensen’s career.

“She has all the potential to become a player on the highest international level,” Eriksen says.

However, Jørgensen is taking things easy so far.

“Of course, my ambition once is to establish myself in the senior national team. And at club level I hope to play for a top club playing Champions League every season,” she says. “For the time being, however, I focus on playing a good European Championship and then on being successful in Viborg.”