Valentini leads race for next batch of EHF Excellence Awards nominations

After 14 rounds of competition, the following players had astonishing performances and were most nominated in the Team of the Round:

Henny Reistad – 7 points
Chloé Valentini - 6 points
Cristina Neagu - 5 points
Katrin Klujber, Sarah Bouktit - 4 points
Bo Van Wetering, Jovanka Radicevic, Angela Malestein, Silje Solberg, Ana Gros, Markéta Jerábková, Kelly Dulfer, Anna Vyakhireva - 3 points

With Reistad, Neagu, Klujber and Radicevic already guaranteed a spot in the candidates' list, thanks to their EHF EURO 2022 All-star team nods, Metz left wing Chloé Valentini is in pole position to join them with 6 points to her name. It has been a wonderful season for Valentini with the group B winners, firing in 62 goals so far this season in Europe's elite club competition.

Just two points behind Valentini is her French compatriot and Metz teammate Sarah Bouktit, who came through the ranks of the EHF Respect Your Talent project.

The top three players in each position, who by the end of the quarter-finals have received the most nominations, will be nominated for the 'EHF Excellence Awards'.

The final list of candidates will have a maximum of nine nominees per position. Besides the ones listed above, there will be one nominee/position from the EHF European League, three nominees per position from the national team matches, as well as one player will receive a wildcard in each position.

17 names already fixed

The first fixed nominees were released after the Women's EHF EURO 2022 last November:

Cleopatre Darleux (goalkeeper), Emma Friis (left wing), Cristina Neagu (left back), Stine Oftedal (centre back), Katrin Klujber (right back), Jovanka Radicevic (right wing), Pauletta Foppa (line player), Kathrine Heindahl (defender) and Henny Reistad (MVP, occupies a spot for the national team competitions on the centre back position).

The first fixed nominees on the men's side were listed based on the IHF Men's World Championship 2023 All-star Team: Andreas Wolff (goalkeeper), Angel Fernandez (left wing), Simon Pytlick (left back), Nedim Remili (centre back), Alex Dujshebaev (right back), Niclas Ekberg (right wing), Ludovic Fabregas (line player). The MVP of the tournament, Mathias Gidsel, also gained a spot on the Right Back.

Chosen weekly by one of a panel of experts, further nominations will come from the players with the most appearances on the teams of the Round for the Machineseeker EHF Champions League and the EHF Champions League Women.

Current nomination points leaders per position in EHF Champions League Women:

• Goalkeeper: Silje Solberg - 3 points
• Left wing: Chloé Valentini - 6 points 
• Left back: Cristina Neagu - 5 points
• Center back: Henny Reistad - 7 points
• Right back: Katrin Klujber - 4 points
• Right wing: Jovanka Radicevic, Angela Malestein - 3 points
• Line player: Sarah Bouktit - 3 points
• Defender: Kelly Dulfer - 3 points
  

Europe's first EHF Excellence Awards will be announced at a glitzy gala in Vienna on June 26, 2023.

Keep an eye on our EHF Excellence Awards page for regular updates on the inaugural awards.