The Ukrainian women's handball team has been denied the opportunity to play home matches in Lithuania due to a ruling from the European Handball Federation.
The Lithuanian Handball Federation (LRF) had proposed to host both matches of the Ukrainian women's national handball team in Lithuania, owing to the ongoing war that has impeded Ukraine's ability to hold such events at home. The LRF has previously facilitated matches for both the men's and women's teams in Lithuania, but this time, the European Handball Federation (EHF) refused the proposal, stating that it would create an unfair advantage for Lithuania in the qualification rounds.
In Group 5, alongside Lithuania and Ukraine, the national teams of Sweden and Serbia are competing, both considered favorites for the two top spots to qualify for the European Championship. In a closely contested match on Wednesday, the Swedish team emerged victorious over Serbia with a score of 29:26, currently placing them on top of the group with six points, while Serbia remains with four points.
The upcoming encounter between Lithuania and Ukraine is pivotal as both teams have yet to secure a win in the qualification tournament. The results of this match will significantly influence which team has a better chance of qualifying for the European Championship, emphasizing the high stakes involved for both countries in the current political and sports landscape.
