The Kosovo women's national handball team represents Kosovo in international women's handball and is controlled by the Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competition in 2015, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).
History Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953 Kosovo Handball Federation was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation.
In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship.
Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Kosovo Handball Federation began operating independently.
In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.
Team Current squad The following players were selected to participate at the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship qualification matches, between 3 and 5 June, 2021."Selektori Shabani shpall listën për ndeshjet kualifikuese",Kosovo Handball Federation, 24 May 2021.
Matches and goals as of 27 April 2022.
Head coach: Agron Shabani
Coaches Florent Beqiri (2014–2018) Agron Shabani (2018 - )
Captains Leonora Demaj (2017 - )
Individual all-time records
Most matches played Total number of matches played in official competitions only. # Player Matches Goals1Aida Stagova27202Mirela Gjikokaj23833Albina Rugova22374Fitore Aliu20365Njomëza Kelmendi1916Elma Kameri18257Shkurta Mehmeti15178Aurora Shehdadi1509Leonora Demaj1312110Arlinda Krasniqi136 Last updated: 27 April 2022 Source:
Most goals scored Total number of goals scored in official competitions only. # Player Goals Matches1Leonora Demaj121132Mirela Gjikokaj83233Albina Rugova37224Fitore Aliu36205Burneta Rama2996Pashke Marku27117Elma Kameri25188Marigona Hajdari2499Albulena Kelmendi23510Arlinda Hajdari227 Last updated: 27 April 2022 Source:
Kit suppliers Since 2019, Kosovo's kits have been supplied by Kempa.
References
External links Official website IHF profile