From 27 to 29 July, the city of Créteil, France, will host the “IHF Beach Handball Showcase”. This exhibition event will feature the participation of 3 women’s teams, 3 men’s teams and the French national teams bringing together the best in the world.
The experienced player of the Brazilian national team and five-time world champion Bruno Carlos de Oliveira is part of the Pegasus team and will be together with Beach Handball referents. In addition, the most outstanding coaches will lead each team.
Last April Brazil was crowned in the South Center of Asuncion, shortly after, in May they reached the first stage of the Global Tour circuit and a month ago they disputed the World Cup in China, a championship they won 5 times. Were the results of the World Cup what you expected?
“The results of the World Cup from the technical and tactical point of view were not bad, we played excellent games, we lost against strong teams and more accurate in shooting. The placement in the ranking does not always reflect a failure.”
- Is the Brazilian national team in transition with younger athletes?
“In the World Championship we only had one athlete making his debut. The transition process is gradual and evolutionary, and Professor Antonio Guerra knows how to lead it with mastery”.
Heading to Paris
- In a few days you will be in Paris with the best players in the world participating in the beach handball exhibition. How did you receive the invitation to participate? What are your expectations?
“I received with great joy an honorable invitation through the official IHF publication. Participating in this event is a supreme achievement after dedicating so much time to our sport. Joy and a feeling of achievement define me at this moment.”
“Regarding expectations, the idea is to put on a great show and realize the official entry to the Olympic Games. The goal will always be to make our sport as great as it deserves to be.”
- Do you know the players of your PEGASUS team?
“Yes, I know them all and they are the referents in their countries. I am very excited about the possibility of participating in this event with direct integration with athletes from other nations, as it was in 2015 at the International Olympic Committee exhibition in Lausanne.”
“The Olympic spirit lives on peaceful interaction between people, our beach handball essentially has fair play as its main guideline and therefore deserves to be part of the Games.”
- Do you think beach handball will be an Olympic sport in Los Angeles 2028?
“Not only do I believe that will be the case, but we will do everything we can to make our sport shine around the world, as it is already doing.”
- To close, when you are not competing with the national team, do you play in other beach handball clubs?
“Yes, today I am part of the Grêmio Vila da Paraíba team. In addition, I have been able to participate in several championships outside the country representing clubs, such as the Spanish, Portuguese and European Club Championships. Nowadays you can play beach handball anywhere in the world, that’s great.
Pegasus
The Pegasus team consists of Bruno Carlos de Oliveira (BRA), Moritz Ebert (GER), Uvan Juric (CRO), Ebiye Jeremy Uno-Udoma (USA), Han Kakhi (QAT), Attila Kun (HUN), Elhji Toure Jabby (ESO) and Nahuel Baptista (ARG).
We share with you the schedule of games:
Photos: courtesy of IHFBy Camila Miranda Torres.
