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

History

The first women's handball teams in Macedonia emerged in the second half of the 1940s. Soon, the Macedonian Handball federation started to organize national championships in big handball -11 players on a soccer field size. By the 1960s it was transformed into small handball or indoor handball. Macedonian champions were qualified for the federal Yugoslav Championship instead of European cup competitions. The best Macedonian players played for the Federal Team of Yugoslavia. In the time of the federation 6 of the constitutional republics were sending one federal team to compete at the Olympics and World cup. Macedonia was participating within the federal team from 1950 till 1991. After the split of the federation, as a single republic from 1992 till 1994 Macedonia didn't manage to enter the qualifications for EC, WC and OG. Since 1995, Macedonia participates as a single Republic to all qualifications and Championship tournaments. At the 1992 Olympics, the Yugoslavia team was banned to participate. At the World Cup 1993 only teams from the Olympics qualified so the Macedonian team did not have a chance to qualify. For the first European Championship 1994 team Macedonia didn't enter the qualifications. For the World Cup 1995, only teams from EURO 1994 qualified so again team Macedonian didn't get a chance to participate. Since EURO 1996 team Macedonia is regular in the qualifications. It entered 7 European Championships first one in 1998 then in 2000, 2006, 2008, 2012. Most successful was the 2008 when they finished 7th as a host. The Macedonia team qualified for the Euro 2022 as a host nation again.After hosting 2022, the national team had a successful qualifications and entered EURO 2024.For the World Cup's they entered five times (1997, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2007). The most successful was in 1997 when they finished in 7th place. For the Olympic tournament, they had the best chance in 1999 World Cup when first they lost the 1/4 final game. Then after in the classification games for the 5th place – last spot that qualifies for the Olympics finished 8th and did not qualify.

Home ground The BTSC - Boris Trajkovski Sports Center (, Sportski centar Boris Trajkovski) in Skopje is a multi-functional indoor sports arena. It is located in the Karpoš Municipality of Skopje, North Macedonia. It is named after the former president, Boris Trajkovski. Its capacity is 10,000. There is an Olympic size Swimming Pool and 5 Star Hotel Alexander Palace within the complex. Additional Water Land Fun Park and Ice Skating Rink next to it.

The arena is a home-ground of the Macedonian handball team (men and women). The venue also contains four restaurants and a sports bar. It was one of two venues for the 2008 European Women's Handball Championship.It was a venue again for the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship

Results During the period 1957 till 1991 Macedonia was within the Federation of SFRJ. It was represented internationally within the team Yugoslavia as part of the Federation of 6 Republics. Macedonia is not a successor of the results of team Yugoslavia it was just part of it. During that time was present at the 3 Olympics and 10 World cup tournaments within the successful team Yugoslavia. After the split Macedonian team started to compete representing the single independent Republic.

World Championship Czech handball World CupWithin Yugoslavia Team1930 1934(2),(1)

YearPos. 1957 19931957, 1962, 1965, 1971, 19731975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 Within Yugoslavia team 3,4,2,2,1,5,5,3,6,2 1995Couldn't participate 19977th9513 19998th9405 200121st5014 2003Did not qualify 200515th5212 2007 12th8215 2009Did not qualify 2011 2013 2015 20172019 2021 2023 2025 2027To be determined 2029 2031Total5/143613419 Record against other teams at the world championship

European Championship YearPos. 1994couldn't participate 1996 19988th6204 20008th6123 2002 2004 200612th6105 2008 7th6303 2010 201216th3003 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 16th3003 2024 18th3012 2026Qualified 2028TBD 2030TBD 2032TBDTotal8/16337323 Record against other teams at the European Championship

Summer Olympics YearRoundPosition 1976 19921980, 1984, 1988,1992 Within Yugoslavia team2,1,4,Suspended 1996 Did not enter World Cup and European Championship served as qualifiers 2000 Did not qualify 2004 Did not Enter World Cup and European Championship served as qualifiers 2008 Did not qualify 2012 Did not enter World Cup and European Championship served as qualifiers 2016 2020 2024 Did not qualifyTotal0/3–0 0 0 0 0 0

Mediterranean Games

YearRoundPosition1979–1991 1979, 1991Within Yugoslavia team (1),(1)1993–2009 Did not participate 2013 Group stage 9th 2018 Semi Finals 4th 2022 Group stage 7th 2026 5th place match 5th Total 4/4 –/ / / /

Performance in other tournaments Carpathian Trophy 1993 – 3rd Carpathian Trophy 1999 – 3rd Carpathian Trophy 2000 – 4th Carpathian Trophy 2001 – 6th Carpathian Trophy 2006 – 3rd Carpathian Trophy 2010 – 4th Carpathian Trophy 2011 – 4th Carpathian Trophy 2017 – 4th Carpathian Trophy 2024 – 5th

Team Current squad Roster for the 2024 European Women's Handball Championship.

Head coach: Kristijan Grchevski

Notable players All-Star Team Indira Kastratović, 1999 World Women's Handball Championship Larisa Ferzalieva, 2000 European Women's Handball Championship Top scorer Indira Kastratović, 1997 World Women's Handball Championship Others Gordana Naceva Marina Abramova Biljana Naumovska Valentina Radulovic Klara Boeva Dana Filipovska Natalija Todorovska, she scored 21 goals against Cameroon at the 2005 World Championship which is still a record in 2021 Mileva Velkova Anzela Platon Mirjana Cupic Dragana Pecevska Olga Buyanova Julija Nikolić Mirjeta Bajramoska Tanja Andrejeva Elena Gjeorgjievska Marina Lambevska Alegra Vernalise Oholanga Loki Lenche Ilkova Dragica Kresoja

See also North Macedonia men's national handball team Macedonian Handball Federation

References

External links

IHF provile