VARNA, Bulgaria – Bulgaria’s men’s national handball team secured a historic silver medal at the 2024 World Handball Cup in Varna, marking their best finish in the tournament’s five-year history.
Despite a valiant effort in the final, they fell to Great Britain 25-29, with a crucial red card to captain and assistant coach Svetlin Dimitrov proving a turning point in the match.
The Bulgarian team, which had previously earned two bronze medals, looked poised to take the title in front of a home crowd. However, their hopes were dampened when Dimitrov received a direct red card in the 19th minute following an incident during a penalty shot.
At the time, Bulgaria trailed by just one goal at 6-7, but his absence allowed Great Britain to take control and extend their lead to 10-7.
Despite the setback, Bulgaria continued to fight back. Key contributions from Nikolay Genov and Michael Ivanov kept the team in contention, and they went into halftime trailing 13-15.
In the second half, goalkeeper Nikolay Petrov made several impressive saves, while Kristiyan Vassilev’s playmaking helped maintain pressure on the British defense.
However, Great Britain’s physical endurance proved decisive in the final minutes as they held onto their lead to claim the championship.
Dimitrov Named MVP and Top Scorer
Despite his early exit in the final, Dimitrov had a stellar tournament, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 51 goals at an 87% success rate.
His performances earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Meanwhile, Petrov was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper, and Vassilev received the Best Distributor award.
Speaking after the final, Dimitrov expressed his disappointment at the outcome but praised his team’s determination.
“I would gladly trade all individual awards for the trophy, but I am proud of how we fought. This result shows how much Bulgarian handball has progressed, and I hope it inspires young players to take up the sport.”
Bulgaria’s head coach, Iliyan Vassilev, commended his squad’s effort but acknowledged the challenge posed by the red card.
“Losing our captain so early disrupted our rhythm. The team showed great spirit, but in the final moments, we didn’t have the energy to close the gap,” he said.
Great Britain’s Preparation Proves Key
Great Britain’s head coach, Ricardo Vasconcelos, credited his team’s preparation for their victory. “When we faced Bulgaria in January, the match ended in a draw, so we knew they would be tough opponents.”
“This time, we were better prepared, and it made the difference,” Vasconcelos stated, adding praise for Bulgaria’s performance and the tournament’s organization.
USA Secures Bronze as Tournament Wraps Up
In the third-place match, the United States claimed bronze with a 31-28 win over Nigeria. Coach Robert Hedin praised his players’ resilience, highlighting their ability to finish strong in a competitive tournament.
Elsewhere, Paraguay secured fifth place by defeating Cyprus, while Moldova took seventh after overcoming Azerbaijan. The 2024 World Handball Cup featured eight teams, with Bulgaria hosting the event for the third time.
The competition was limited to players under 24, with a maximum of three older players allowed per team. With Bulgaria’s strong performance and the growing popularity of handball in the country, hopes are high for continued success in future tournaments.