Handball H League Opens in Spectacular Fashion Amid Cheers of 3,000... “Throw Your Passion”

"This year, the H League will throw its passion."The Shinhan SOL Pay 25-26 Handball H League kicked off in grand style on the 15th at the Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park, Seoul, filled with over 3,000 fans. True to this season’s slogan, "Throw Your Passion," both players and fans radiated energy from the opening ceremony through the first two matches, signaling the start of a new season.


The opening ceremony was attended by key figures including Kwak Noh-Jung, President of the Korea Handball Federation, Kim Dae-hyun, Second Vice Minister of MCST, and Jung Sang-hyuk, President of Shinhan Bank, who celebrated the new start of the H League. The arena quickly turned festive with a laser show, cheerleading, the Junior H Talent Festival, a taekwondo demonstration, and various performances.
In his congratulatory speech, Vice Minister Kim stated, "Last season, attendance increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year, confirming the league’s potential for professional growth." He emphasized, "We will actively support handball so it can become a sport enjoyed in daily life."
The social contribution project 'Pass from the Heart Campaign', featuring women’s league players, was also introduced. Players personally handed out gifts to the audience, highlighting the league’s commitment to connecting with fans.


In the first men’s match, SK Hawks defeated Doosan Handball Club 23-20 to claim the opening victory.
SK Hawks took an early 2-0 lead, but Doosan Handball Club quickly caught up, ending the first half tied at 10-10. The back-and-forth continued in the second half, but as Doosan’s errors increased, SK Hawks pulled ahead with consecutive goals from Park Si-woo, Park Se-woong, Kim Dong-cheol, and Francisco, seizing control of the game.
SK Hawks, who finished as runners-up after losing to Doosan in last season’s championship, avenged their defeat by winning the official season opener. Kim Dong-cheol and Donghyun Jang each scored five goals, while Francisco contributed four goals and four assists.
Veteran center back Kim Dong-cheol was named MVP of the opening match, and Donghyun Jang reached his 500th career goal, becoming the 12th player in league history to do so. Goalkeeper Bruno also proved his skills with 10 saves and a save percentage of 34.48%.
On the other hand, Doosan Handball Club’s Jeongu Kang and Yeonbin Kim (5 goals each), and Hansol Lee (4 goals) fought hard but could not prevent the loss. Goalkeeper Shinhak Kim recorded eight saves, reaching 900 career saves as the eighth player in league history, but it was overshadowed by the defeat.
SK Hawks head coach Nuno Alvarez remarked, "The first half was tight, but I believed that if we could gain even a slight edge in the second half, we could control the game." He added, "Our preparation has been positive, and we are confident in our pursuit of the championship this season."


In the second match, Hanam City Hall Handball Club secured a 24-21 victory over Sangmu Phoenix, led by Hyeonho Seo’s six goals and three assists.
Sangmu Phoenix initially took control with goals from Shin Jae-seop and Kim Ji-woon, but Hanam City Hall Handball Club leveled the score with goals from Kim Ji-hoon and Hyeonho Seo. The first half ended with Sangmu Phoenix leading 12-11.
The momentum shifted in the second half. Hanam City Hall Handball Club took the lead with consecutive goals from Won Seung-hyun and Lee Byung-joo, while debutant Na Eui-chan added four goals to energize the offense. Goalkeeper Jaeyong Park made a series of saves, and an 'empty goal' extended the lead to 18-13 at one point.
Although Sangmu Phoenix mounted a late comeback, Hanam City Hall Handball Club maintained their focus on defense and sealed the win with a buzzer-beater from Won Seung-hyun. Na Eui-chan, who scored four goals and two assists in his professional debut, was named MVP.
Hanam City Hall Handball Club head coach Paek Won-chul commented, "The players were nervous and heavy-footed for the opening match, but goalkeeper Jaeyong Park’s strong performance in the second half helped us secure the win. With this positive start, we will tackle the season with the energy of our young players."
MVP Na Eui-chan said, "I really wanted to win the opening match and didn’t want to lose since I was playing. I hope to continue this momentum and achieve a winning streak. My goal is to win Rookie of the Year and help the team reach the playoffs."

This season’s Handball H League will span six months, starting with the opening match and continuing through May next year, traveling to seven cities nationwide, including Seoul, Incheon, Cheongju, Gwangmyeong, Gwangju, Busan, and Samcheok.
The regular season will feature 159 games in total: 75 games over five rounds for the six men’s teams and 84 games over three rounds for the eight women’s teams. Due to the national team’s participation in the IHF Women's World Championship in Germany and the Netherlands from the 26th to December 14, the women’s league will begin on January 10 next year. All eyes are on whether this season, launched with the determination to "Throw Your Passion," will mark a new leap forward for Korean handball.
rsunjun@fnnews.com Yoo Sun-joon Reporter