Handball queen Anna Vyakhireva is heading to Norway
Russian girls’s handball star Anna Vyakhireva – who has been in contrast by some to Lionel Messi for her stature within the sport – has moved to Norwegian workforce Vipers Kristiansand after leaving Rostov-Don in her homeland.
The reigning Norwegian and European champions introduced the seize of the Russian star on their web site on Thursday, hailing it as a “massive day” for the workforce.
“Anna can play in a number of positions and has excessive particular person abilities,” mentioned Vipers head coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad.
“As well as, she has a very good eye for the sport and for her fellow gamers. She is without doubt one of the absolute best gamers on this planet.
“It’s an enormous day for all the Vipers [family] that she now chooses to play for us.”
Vyakhireva, 27, has lengthy been hailed as one in all her sport’s brightest abilities. The best again helped the Russian girls’s workforce to Olympic gold on the Rio Video games in 2016, following that with silver in Tokyo final summer time. Vyakhireva was named participant of the match at each editions of the Video games.
At membership degree, Vyakhireva starred for Rostov from 2016 onwards, profitable the Russian Tremendous League 5 instances, in addition to a quintet of Russian Cup and Russian Tremendous Cup titles. She additionally helped the workforce to the ultimate of the EHF Champions League in 2019.
Her performances have seen the 5ft 6in star in comparison with Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi, with one YouTube compilation of Vyakhireva’s abilities labeling her ‘Handball Messi’.
That was a comparability revered Russian soccer coach Yuri Semin made when congratulating the workforce on their efficiency on the European Championships in 2018, gushing: “Anna Vyakhireva’s ball [skills] may be in contrast solely with the dribbling of Lionel Messi!”
Upon leaving Rostov, Vyakhireva paid an emotional tribute in a farewell message shared on the membership’s web site.
“There have been tears of pleasure from victories, and bitterness of defeat,” mentioned the departing star.
“I thank these with out whom all this may not make sense, those that have at all times been there – our followers… It’s time to maneuver on, however I don’t say goodbye. You’re without end in my coronary heart!”
In return, the membership described Vyakhireva as “quick, sturdy, courageous, wonderful and most significantly – beloved.”
Vyakhireva now joins Vipers, the five-time Norwegian REMA 1000-ligaen champions who’ve received back-to-back EHF Champions League crowns previously two seasons.
Vyakhireva’s transfer means she is going to be capable of compete in European competitors subsequent season – one thing she wouldn’t have been in a position to do had she remained at a Russian workforce.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) banned all Russian and Belarusian groups from its competitions in late February, in response to Moscow’s army marketing campaign in Ukraine.
The Russian Handball Federation (RHF) later had its enchantment in opposition to that ban rejected by the EHF’s Courtroom of Handball.
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