After four years, the IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship will make its comeback in North Macedonia, the first-ever edition with 32 teams at the start. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the previous edition in Croatia in 2020, the best players in the world in this category will take to the court in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje, in three different halls, ready to fight for the coveted gold medal.
Precisely eight years and one day ago, Romania were crowned the winners of the 2014 IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship after a stellar display with eight wins and a draw.
It looked to be a golden generation for Romanian handball, with three players – left back Bianca Bazaliu, centre back Cristina Laslo and line player Lorena Ostase – making the All-star Team, and later on also the Romania women’s senior team, alongside left wing Alexandra Dindiligan.