Romania's head coach has announced the preliminary squad for the Women's European Handball Championship

Head coach Ovidiu Mihăilă has announced Romania’s extended squad for the European Women’s Handball Championship, which will be hosted by Romania from 3–20 December. The preliminary list includes 35 players, from whom the final squad for the continental tournament will be selected.

The list includes goalkeepers Diana Ciucă (Rapid), Bianca Curmenț (Corona Brașov), Yuliya Dumanska (Minaur), Daciana Hosu (Râmnicu Vâlcea), Raluca Rădoi (Corona Brașov), Denisa Șandru (Rapid), and Elena Șerban (Dunărea Brăila). The outfield players on the preliminary list are Bianca Bazaliu (Corona Brașov), Ana Berbece (Corona Brașov), Alisia Boiciuc (Dunărea Brăila), Oana Borș (Rapid), Yaroslava Burlachenko (Gloria Bistrița), Teodora Damian (Minaur), Gabriela Dumitrașcu (Corona Brașov), Asma Elghaoui (Râmnicu Vâlcea), and Alicia Gogîrlă (Universitatea Craiova).

Also being considered for the final selection are Sorina Grozav (Corona Brașov), Eva Kerekes (Corona Brașov), Cristina Laslo (Dunărea Brăila), Diana Lixăndroiu (Dunărea Brăila), Corina Lupei (Gloria Bistrița), Mihaela Mihai (Dunărea Brăila), Mariam Mohamed (Dunărea Brăila), Rebeca Necula (Dunărea Brăila), Alexia Niță (HC Zalău), Lorena Ostase (Gloria Bistrița), Crina Pintea (CSM București), Andreea Popa (Corona Brașov), Beatrice Raicea (Dunărea Brăila), Elena Roșu (Dunărea Brăila), Sonia Seraficeanu (Gloria Bistrița), Anamaria Șerban (Corona Brașov), Ștefania Stoica (Râmnicu Vâlcea), Andreea Țîrle (CSM Slatina), and Sonia Vasiliu (CSM Slatina)

Romania will play in Group B, whose matches will take place at BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca. The national team will face Norway on 4 December, Switzerland on 6 December, and North Macedonia on 8 December. The two highest-ranked teams from Groups A, B, and C will qualify for Main Round Group I, also hosted in Cluj-Napoca. The other matches in the preliminary phase will be played in Oradea.

Ovidiu Mihăilă explained that the staff’s objective is to build the players’ confidence and strengthen the team’s mental balance. The head coach believes that Romania has athletes capable of competing on equal terms with their opponents, but that psychological preparation will be essential for managing difficult moments at the final tournament.

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