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Russia
Information
Association	Handball Federation of Russia
Coach	Lyudmila Bodniyeva
Assistant coach	Tomáš Hlavatý Mikhail Izmailov
Captain	Olga Fomina
Most caps	Lyudmila Postnova (212)
Most goals	Lyudmila Postnova (722)
Colours
1st 2nd
Results
Summer Olympics
Appearances	3 (First in 2008)
Best result	1st (2016)
World Championship
Appearances	14 (First in 1993)
Best result	1st (2001, 2005, 2007, 2009)
European Championship
Appearances	14 (First in 1994)
Best result	2nd (2006, 2018)
Last updated on Unknown.

Russia women's national handball team

Medal record
Olympic Games
	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Team
	2008 Beijing	Team
	2020 Tokyo	Team
World Championship
	2001 Italy
	2005 Russia
	2007 France
	2009 China
	2019 Japan
European Championship
	2006 Sweden
	2018 France
	2000 Romania
	2008 Macedonia

The Russia women's national handball team is the national team of the Russian Federation. It is governed by the Handball Federation of Russia and takes part in international handball competitions.

They are as of October 2021, together with its predecessor the USSR team, the only handball women's team in the world, to have won the World Championship three consecutive times. (Denmarks men's team equalled the record in 2023). Overall, the team won three medals at the Olympics, with a gold on 2016, five medals at the World Championships, with four of them gold, and four medals at the European Championships, with two silvers in 2006 and 2018.

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Handball Federation banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, and the European Handball Federation suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus, as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions. Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities, and new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.

History

1993–1999: Instability

The Russian women's national handball team was formed in 1993, succeeding the Soviet Union women's national handball team, one of the strongest teams in the world. Notwithstanding the third place at the 1992 Summer Olympics as the Unified Team, Russia could not qualify for the Olympic Games in the following eight years.

In this period the Russian team saw four changes of coaches, who retired after failing on large events. The only striking performance was at the 1997 World Women's Handball Championship, where Russia under Igor Eskov, coach of the Rostov club Istochnik, became 4th, and two Russian handball players, Natalya Malakhova and Natalya Deryugina, were included into the All-Star team. However, already in the next year at the 1998 European Women's Handball Championship in the Netherlands, Russia became only 9th, and at the 1999 World Women's Handball Championship, under Kuban's Alexander Tarasikov and head coach of the Unified Team at the 1992 Olympics, just 12th.

1999–2009: Breakthrough

In late 1999, Tarasikov was replaced by Evgeny Trefilov, the club coach of Lada. He introduced younger players to the national team and concentrated more on national club players. At the 2000 European Championship, Russia became bronze medalists.

At the 2001 World Championship, Trefilov returned two veterans, Raisa Verakso, which was her sixth participation at Worlds, and the 1990 World champion, goalkeeper Svetlana Bogdanova. Russia won all nine matches, and in the final defeated Norway.

Against the backgrounds of those victories, Team Russia became 4th at the 2002 European Championship in Denmark, and a year later at the World Championship in Croatia they became only 7th, which meant that Trefilov's team could not qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. Only one point was needed to reach the semi-finals in Croatia, but Russia failed to do that against France in the group stage, losing 19–20; a draw would have been enough to qualify.

After the fourth-best result at the 2004 European Championship in Hungary, Team Russia rose from the ashes at the 2005 World Championship in Saint Petersburg, repeating the 2001 success in Italy.

Russia lost in the final of the 2006 European Championship to Norway, and so could not directly qualify for the Olympics; however, Russia rematched Norway at the 2007 World Championship in France in the final. A number of top handball players such as Lyudmila Bodnieva, MVP of the previous World championships and member of the All-Star Team at the 2000 and 2006 European championships, Irina Bliznova, who was injured in the group stage, Natalya Shipilova, who could not compete in the semi-finals. Goal keeper Inna Suslina made a great game, saving three out of five penalties. Russia won 29–24.

Norway returned the favour at the 2008 Olympics in the gold medal game. Already in the early stage leading ten balls, the Vikings hindered the Russians coming back, and so Russia lost 34–27. Russia won silver.

After the Olympic Games, Anna Kareeva, Oksana Romenskaya and Natalya Shipilova decided to retire from handball. Prior to the 2008 European Championship in Macedonia, players such as Polina Vyakhireva, Yana Uskova, Ekaterina Andryushina, Lyudmila Postnova and Irina Bliznova could not compete for Russia due to injuries or disease; they were replaced by nine debutants. Russia again met Norway in the semi-finals, and as previously, the Scandinavians started well, leading 7–1 in the beginning. In the third-place match between Germany, Russia claimed bronze.

The Russians defeated the Norwegians in the semi-final of the 2009 World Championship with a score of 28–20. In the final, Russia claimed the gold medal by defeating France, 25–22.

2009–2013: Decline and Retirement of Trefilov

After the 2009 World Championships, team Russia saw a number of disappointing results. They became 7th at the 2010 European Championship and 6th at the 2011 World Championship. Russia could not get beyond the quarterfinal of the 2012 Olympics, losing there to South Korea. After the London Olympics, the new head coach became Vitaly Krokhin.

In June 2013, Russia fought for the qualification to the World Championship. In the playoff round, Russia won the first leg in Rotterdam, 27–26, but lost the next leg in Rostov-on-Don, 21–33. With that said, Russia for the first time did not qualify for the Worlds.

2013–19: Trefilov's Return and Olympic Gold

On 16 September 2013, Evgeny Trefilov returned as head coach. He debuted at the 2014 European Championship, but Russia became a dreadful 14th, the worst ever result in the European championships. However, on 7 and 13 June 2015, Russia twice defeated Germany in the playoffs and qualified for the 2015 World Championship. In their first match they defeated the Norwegians, 26–25. However, the Russians only reached the quarterfinals, losing there to Poland. In the playoffs, team Russia was placed 5th.

Russia qualified to the Olympics for the third time, through the qualification tournament taking place from 18 to 20 March 2016 in Astrakhan. In the group stage of the Olympic tournament, Russia defeated all of its rivals. In the knockout stage, the Russians defeated Angola in the quarterfinal, and in the marathon semi-final match between Norway claimed the deciding point in overtime. In the final, Russia defeated France to claim its first Olympic gold in women's handball.

At the 2018 European Championships, the last time under the guidance of Trefilov, Russia broke through the final for the first time since 2006. Russia lost to host France, who took its first championship title.

2019–20: Ambros Martin as new head coach

In August 2019, national team's head coach Trefliov was replaced by Rostov-Don's Ambros Martin. Trefilov took the post as vice-president of the Handball Federation of Russia. Team Russia entered the 2019 World Championships as the main favourite. The squad, primarily including 20 players, was reduced to 18 players; injured Antonina Skorobogatchenko and alternate Olga Shcherbak were dismissed. The Russian team, after winning eight matches in a row was eventually defeated by the Dutch in the semi-finals by a one-point difference, which happened after a last-minute shot in the second half, leaving a final result of 32–33 for Russia against the Netherlands. Russia went on to win the bronze match against Norway, 33–28; this was the first time since 2009 that the Russians won a medal at the Worlds.

Russia went to the 2020 Europeans with less optimism; three injured top players – Elena Mikhaylichenko, Anna Sen and Anna Viakhireva – had to skip the championships; reduced team practice sessions of only one week, for the first time taking place in a sports school hall; missing test matches due to the worldwide situation imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak. Russia started well on the Championships, finishing first in its group in the preliminary round. In the main round, the Russians defeated Montenegro, played a draw match against France and lost against Denmark. As a result, they did not qualify for the semifinals. Martin decided to retire from his position as head coach, expressing his will to focus on family life instead.

2021: Alekseyev replaces Martin

After Martin retired in December 2020, Lada's Alexey Alekseyev, who previously served as assistant coach for the national team and was the head coach of Luch, replaced the Spaniard. Furthermore, the coaching staff was renewed, now featuring former handball player Olga Akopyan and Rostov-Don's assistant coach Tomáš Hlavatý. Also, Trefilov took the position as consultant. Prior to the Tokyo's 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed to July–August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, team Russia went through the Hungarian leg of the qualification tournament, which took place Győr. Two of four participating teams were granted a ticket to the upcoming Olympics. Russia won all three matches against Serbia, Kazakhstan and Hungary.

The squad for the Olympics was announced on 2 June. Prior to the Olympics, on 26 June Russia played a friendly match against the Netherlands in Japan. A week later they played another friendly match, losing a second time to the Dutch team. Goalkeeper Anastasia Lagina and outside left Daria Samokhina were named alternates. The team lost its opening Olympic match to Sweden, then drew Hungary, and after that went on a five-match winning streak all the way to the gold medal game, beating Norway in the semi-finals by one point, just as they did in 2016. And just as in 2016, Russia faced France in the final. This time, the French prevailed, 30–25, but Russia won silver, its third Olympic medal after Soviet collapse.

On 23 September 2021, Lyudmila Bodniyeva was announced as the team's new head coach, after Alekseyev's contract ran out.

2022: Suspension from international competition

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Handball Federation banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, and the European Handball Federation suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions. Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities, and new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.

Results

Honours

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	1	2	0	3
World Championship	4	0	1	5
European Championship	0	2	2	4
Total	5	4	3	12

Olympic Games

Year	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GS	GA	+/-
1996	Did not qualify
2000
2004
2008	2nd	8	6	1	1	229	210	+19
2012	8th	6	3	1	2	174	149	+25
2016	1st	8	8	0	0	256	230	+26
2020	2nd	8	5	1	2	232	226	+6
Total	4/7	30	22	3	5	891	815	+76

World Championship

Year	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GS	GA	+/–
1993	5th	7	4	1	2	164	147	+17
/ 1995	6th	8	4	1	3	187	171	+16
1997	4th	9	6	1	2	227	209	+18
/ 1999	12th	6	3	0	3	178	144	+34
2001	1st	9	9	0	0	252	194	+58
2003	7th	8	5	1	2	224	182	+42
2005	1st	10	10	0	0	328	239	+89
2007	1st	9	7	1	1	324	279	+45
2009	1st	9	6	0	3	253	242	+11
2011	6th	9	7	0	2	295	210	+85
2013	Did not qualify
2015	5th	9	8	0	1	277	207	+70
2017	5th	7	6	0	1	202	180	+18
2019	3rd	10	9	0	1	311	224	+87
2021	8th	7	4	1	2	211	181	+30
// 2023	Disqualified during qualification
/ 2025	Banned
2027	To be determined
2029
/ 2031
Total	14/20	119	92	6	21	3486	2708	+778

1. The EHF suspended Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

European Championship

Year	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GS	GA	±
1994	6th	6	3	0	3	143	116	+27
1996	7th	6	3	1	2	164	147	+17
1998	9th	6	1	1	4	144	147	−3
2000	3rd	7	5	0	2	163	148	+15
2002	4th	8	4	1	3	202	189	+13
2004	4th	8	4	0	4	226	215	+11
2006	2nd	8	7	0	1	242	200	+42
2008	3rd	8	5	1	2	210	183	+27
2010	7th	6	3	0	3	159	145	+14
2012	6th	7	2	3	2	190	180	+10
2014	14th	3	0	1	2	79	83	−4
2016	7th	6	2	2	2	148	147	+1
2018	2nd	8	5	0	3	217	206	+11
2020	5th	7	5	1	1	193	178	+15
2022	Disqualified during qualification
2024	Banned
2026
2028	TBD
Total	15/18	94	49	11	34	2480	2284	+196

1. The EHF suspended Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Other tournaments

• Carpathian Trophy 1995 – Second place
• Carpathian Trophy 1997 – Second place
• Carpathian Trophy 2000 – Winner
• Møbelringen Cup 2001 – Winner
• Carpathian Trophy 2002 – Third place
• Møbelringen Cup 2004 – Third place
• Møbelringen Cup 2005 – Second place
• Møbelringen Cup 2006 – Second place
• Møbelringen Cup 2007 – Second place
• Møbelringen Cup 2008 – Second place
• Møbelringen Cup 2009 – Second place
• Møbelringen Cup 2015 – Winner
• Møbelringen Cup 2017 – Second place
• Carpathian Trophy 2018 – Third place

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2021 World Women's Handball Championship.

Head coach: Lyudmila Bodniyeva

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club 3 LW Polina Gorshkova (1989-11-22) 22 November 1989 (age 35) 1.73 m 34 58 CSKA Moscow 11 GK Anastasia Lagina (1995-08-11) 11 August 1995 (age 29) 1.78 m 11 2 Rostov-Don 23 LB Elena Mikhaylichenko (2001-09-14) 14 September 2001 (age 23) 1.80 m 21 28 CSKA Moscow 25 RW Olga Fomina (1989-04-17) 17 April 1989 (age 35) 1.75 m 151 305 HC Lada 31 CB Karina Sabirova (1998-03-23) 23 March 1998 (age 26) 1.81 m 27 41 CSKA Moscow 33 CB Ekaterina Ilina (1991-03-07) 7 March 1991 (age 33) 1.74 m 119 318 CSKA Moscow 35 CB Valeriia Kirdiasheva (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) 1.77 m 2 5 HC Lada 36 RW Yulia Managarova (1988-09-27) 27 September 1988 (age 36) 1.67 m 70 220 Rostov-Don 39 RB Antonina Skorobogatchenko (1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 (age 25) 1.82 m 58 128 CSKA Moscow 41 LB Veronika Nikitina (1992-05-16) 16 May 1992 (age 32) 1.75 m 13 19 HC Lada 51 CB Milana Tazhenova (1999-03-06) 6 March 1999 (age 25) 1.82 m 2 1 Rostov-Don 55 P Ksenia Zakordonskaya (2003-03-04) 4 March 2003 (age 21) 1.74 m 0 0 HC Astrakhanochka 67 P Anastasia Illarionova (1999-03-28) 28 March 1999 (age 25) 1.80 m 28 16 CSKA Moscow 76 RB Ekaterina Zelenkova (1999-02-28) 28 February 1999 (age 25) 1.82 m 2 3 Rostov-Don 77 CB Yaroslava Frolova (1997-05-18) 18 May 1997 (age 27) 1.77 m 41 90 Rostov-Don 78 LB Irina Korneeva (1995-06-07) 7 June 1995 (age 29) 1.82 m 16 6 HC Astrakhanochka 86 CB Olga Sherbak (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 26) 1.77 m 2 5 HC Lada 96 LW Yulia Markova (1996-08-10) 10 August 1996 (age 28) 1.68 m 20 18 CSKA Moscow 99 GK Polina Kaplina (1999-08-16) 16 August 1999 (age 25) 1.81 m 7 1 CSKA Moscow

Notable players

Several Russian players have seen their individual performance recognized at international tournaments, either as Most Valuable Player, best defense player or as a member of the All-Star Team.

MVP

• Liudmila Bodnieva, 2005 World Championship
• Liudmila Postnova, 2009 World Championship
• Anna Vyakhireva, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics; 2018 European Championship

All-Star Team

• Natalya Deryugina, 1995 and 1997 World Championship
• Natalia Malakhova, 1997 World Championship
• Irina Poltoratskaya, 2001 World Championship
• Liudmila Bodnieva, 2001 and 2005 World Championship; 2002, 2004 and 2006 European Championship
• Inna Suslina, 2006 European Championship; 2009 World Championship
• Yana Uskova, 2007 World Championship
• Liudmila Postnova, 2008 Summer Olympics
• Irina Bliznova, 2008 Summer Olympics
• Polina Kuznetsova, 2007 World Championship; 2012 European Championship; 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics
• Emiliya Turey, 2011 World Championship
• Daria Dmitrieva, 2016 Summer Olympics
• Anna Vyakhireva, 2019 World Championship; 2020 Summer Olympics

Best defense player

• Nadezda Muravyeva, 2008 European Championship

Coaching history

Period	Head Coach
–1999	Alexander Tarasikov
1999–2012; 2013–2019	Evgeny Trefilov
2012–2013	Vitaly Krokhin
2019–2020	Ambros Martin
2021	Alexey Alekseyev
2021–	Liudmila Bodnieva

See also

• Russia men's national handball team
• Soviet Union women's national handball team
• Soviet Union men's national handball team

References

1. ^ "Russia and Belarus suspended by EHF". Handball Planet. 1 March 2022.
2. ^ "Из того, что было" [From what was there] (in Russian). Sports.ru. 18 December 2000. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
3. Georgy Kudinov (18 December 2001). "Русские женщины умеют делать подарки" [Russian women can bring offerings] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
4. Elena Rerikh; Vladimir Yurinov (19 December 2005). "Русский хоровод" [Russian round dance] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
5. Natalya Kuzina (17 December 2007). "Какие же золотые у них руки!" [They have such golden hands!] (in Russian). Sovyetsky Sport. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
6. Regina Sevostyanova (23 August 2008). "Трефилов: сначала женщины плачут, потом ревут" [Trefilov: At first women cry, then howl] (in Russian). Championat.ru. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
7. Vladimir Mozhatsev (4 September 2008). "2008-09-04" (in Russian). Sport-Express. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
8. "Гандбол: Шипилова завершает карьеру" [Handball: Shipilova ends career] (in Russian). Sportbox.ru. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
9. Vladimir Mozhaytsev (15 December 2008). "В Македонии родилась новая сборная России" [A new team was born in Macedonia] (in Russian). Sport-Express. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
10. "Чемпионат мира впервые пройдёт без нас" [The World Championship will be without us for the first time] (in Russian). Handball Federation of Russia. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
11. Anastasia Bogdanova (16 September 2013). "Король Треф" [King Tref] (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
12. "Гандбол. Россиянки стартовали на чемпионате мира с победы". news.sportbox.ru. 6 December 2015.
13. Borislav Golovin (20 December 2015). "Российские гандболистки попали в пятерку" [Russian handball players became fifth] (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
14. Mikhail Chesalin (19 August 2016). "Ругай их, ругай! Как Россия вышла в финал Олимпиады" [Scold them, scold them! How Russia entered the Olympic final] (in Russian). Championat.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
15. "Российские гандболистки завоевали золото Олимпийских игр в Рио-де-Жанейро" [Russian handball players won gold at the Rio Olympic Games] (in Russian). Championat.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
16. "IHF | "I'm not leaving handball": Russian coach legend Trefilov moves up to federation vice-president role". www.ihf.info.
17. "ЧМ-2019. Амброс Мартин назвал окончательный состав сборной России — в нем нет Антонины Скоробогатченко и Ольги Щербак". Гандбол. Сайт «Быстрый центр».
18. Netherlands beat Olympic champions Russia to make IHF Women's Handball World Championship final
19. Шитихин, Андрей. "«Медаль будет хорошим результатом». Сборную России вычеркнули из числа фаворитов Евро-2020". www.championat.com.
20. Главный тренер женской сборной России по гандболу Амброс Мартин будет отправлен в отставку
21. Алексей Алексеев возглавил женскую сборную России по гандболу
22. Чистова, Елена. "Российские гандболистки завоевали путёвку на Олимпийские игры в Токио". www.championat.com.
23. Last six spots at women's handball tournament in Tokyo confirmed
24. Шебика, Антон. "Объявлен состав женской сборной России по гандболу для подготовки к Олимпиаде в Токио". www.championat.com.
25. Шебика, Антон. "Женская сборная России по гандболу проиграла Нидерландам в контрольном матче". www.championat.com.
26. "Нидерланды - Россия. 02-07-2021. Товарищеский" – via www.youtube.com.
27. Шебика, Антон. "Названы гандболистки, которые будут в резерве сборной России на Олимпиаде в Токио". www.championat.com.
28. "Bodniyeva takes over as head coach of Russian women". www.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
29. "EHF decision on current competition structures". eurohandball.com. EHF. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
30. "EHF decision on current competition structures". eurohandball.com. EHF. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
31. "20 гандболисток вызваны для подготовки к чемпионату мира" (in Russian). rushandball.ru. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
32. "Team Roster Russian Handball Federation" (PDF). ihf.info. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
33. handball-world. "Russia's Handball Federation Reveals New Head Coach of Women's National Team". handball-world. Retrieved 11 November 2021.

External links

• Official website
• IHF profile

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