Fr om 1 to 8 April, the Russian Handball Championship for men and women took place in Sochi at the Lesnoe Sports Complex, wh ere five men’s and four women’s teams from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, Moscow Oblast, and Volgograd Oblast competed for the title of national champion.
The men’s tournament featured teams from Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Volgograd Oblast, who played in a round-robin format over six competition days. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament included teams from Moscow, Moscow Oblast, St. Petersburg, and debutants Krasnodar Krai. In addition to the group stage, the women’s teams battled in the semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the final.
In the men’s competition, the Krasnodar Krai team emerged victorious with a perfect record, though this time, they faced a tough challenge—narrowly defeating their longtime rivals from Stavropol Krai by just two points (29:27). Moscow secured third place after a dominant 30:15 win over St. Petersburg.
Among the women’s teams, Moscow once again proved unbeatable, reaffirming their year-after-year dominance. From the group stage to the semi-finals and the final, the Muscovites swept every opponent, leaving no doubt about their superiority. St. Petersburg claimed second place, while the Moscow Oblast team took bronze after a tight 21:19 victory over the newcomers from Krasnodar Krai.
Russian Championship Results
Women:
1st place - Moscow
2nd place - St. Petersburg
3rd place - Moscow Oblast
Men:
1st place - Krasnodar Krai
2nd place - Stavropol Krai
3rd place - Moscow
Maxim Ziuzin, Head Coach of the Russian Women's National Handball Team: “The Russian Championship was excellent—both in organization and venue. Everything was convenient, with the accommodation and gym just a minute’s walk apart. The sporting aspect was also top-notch, with professional refereeing that, as always, gave no reason for complaints.”
Eduard Dzhereshtiev, Head Coach of the Russian Men's National Handball Team: “I’m pleased with the Krasnodar team’s performance, as they secured their sixth national title, even if this year’s final against Stavropol was a hard-fought two-point victory. The arena was in perfect condition, and both coaches and athletes were very satisfied with the facilities.”

RESULTS 

Text: Nurlan Tazhigulov, Maria Mazhenina, Artemii Antonov
Photos: Sergei Kulakov, Konstantin Tkachev, Vasilii Panov
Translation: Daria Kudelina