Kenya women's handball team win silver in thrilling showdown at Africa Beach Games

HANDBALL Kenya women's handball team win silver in thrilling showdown at Africa Beach Games

Joel Omotto 19:00 - 26.06.2023

The East Africans run hosts Tunisia close in the final before losing out on shootouts as their male counterparts finished fifth.

Kenya’s women's handball team claimed the country’s first medal at the second edition of the Africa Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The team displayed outstanding skill and determination throughout the tournament, ultimately securing a well-deserved silver medal.

In a closely contested final match, the Kenyan girls narrowly lost out 3-1 to Tunisia on shoot-outs after a thrilling 1-1 draw in two sets.

Demonstrating resilience and unwavering focus, they came from a set down to tie the duel, defying the pressure from a partisan crowd. However, the Tunisians experience showed in the shoot-out, where they scored thrice, while the Kenyan girls managed only one goal.

The team's progress from a fourth-place finish in the previous edition held in Sal, Cape Verde, in 2019 exemplifies their continuous improvement, and captain Michelle Adhiambo expressed her delight with the team's silver medal, highlighting the motivation it provides for future success.

"This means so much for us because most of the players in the team are newcomers, and this is their first time at such a competition. For them to go back home with a medal means so much, and it gives us motivation to push even harder," Adhiambo, who is also the skipper of the national regular handball team said, as per NOC-K media.

Kenya women's handball team against Tunisia at Africa Beach Games.
©NOC-K.

"This experience has given us a clear picture of where we stand as a team and has shown us that it is possible to achieve even greater success. We came very close this time, and we will take the lessons learned from this championship to strive for excellence in the next."

Tunisia won the first set 24-19, capitalising on marginal errors by the Kenyan girls at the tail end of the set. However, Team Kenya rectified their approach, dominating the second set which they won 20-17.

In addition to the success of the women's team, the men's handball team achieved an impressive fifth-place finish in the tournament after defeating Mali in straight sets during the placement matches.

This accomplishment represents a significant improvement from their ninth-place finish in the inaugural edition of the games in 2019.