SPANISH IMPRESSIONS

ORSAN ELDAPRESTIGIO – SLAGELSE FH

We are the current World champions in Men’s handball, but in women’shandball, there is still a lot to prove. Over many years, some clubs likeAstroc Sagunto for example, Champions of the Women’s Champions League in 1997under the name Osito L´Eliana, Orsan Elda Prestigio and the Union of Riba-roja,before Ferrobús Mislata, have defended the Spanish flag very well. However, interms of support and emotion, it had a long way to go, if we were to match thelevel of Spanish football fever.

Fortunately there is one exception: Elda, a small, modestcity, but with a great heart. A city is situated in the community of Valencia,40 kilometres southeast of Alicante. The people have always accompanied theirfavourite team “Orsan Elda Prestigio” in an unrivalled way during the completeChampions League competition season.

In Elda, people love this sport, this great spectacleand it is possible to “breath” handball in every corner. The atmosphere in theplaying hall on a match day is the equivalent of a “Spanish fiesta”. LastSaturday the emotions were high and another magical afternoon was experienced,despite of the loss against Anja Andersen’s Danish team.

Indeed, the people of Valencia are so lucky to havetwo teams in the Champions League – Astroc Sagunto and Orsan Elda – whichpermits them to watch the different stars of women’s handball from veryclosely.

Names like Gro Hammerseng, Ludmila Boudnieva,Cristina Picnicki or Cecile Leganger as well as many others, have awokenpassions that will not be erased easily from our memories. In the hall of Elda,moreover, it was a very special Champions League. The hall, coquette,functionary, has turned into a very “hot pot” of pressure, where more than2.800 spectators enjoyed the match. Angel Sandoval’s girls have “infected” thecrowd with their magic.

It is the magic of handball, between the best“gladiators of the planet”, women who have made history like Natalia Morskova,Katja Sergeeva or Laura Lunca. The exceptional players of the past, who todaylive in Spain, have amongst other things, moved their experience and talent, intodifferent areas such as TV commentators. In the case of Channel 9 – ValenciaTV, the channel that shows the most handball games, as a reporter, I am proudto be a part of this team.

Text: Miguel Angel Murcia Llin,Canal 9 – Televisión Valenciana