07 JAN 99: IHF and ADIDAS are looking for the 1998 world handball players of the year
It has become a good tradition in the meantime: the readers of the WORLD HANDBALL MAGAZINE as well as all those interested in handball are asked to chose the female and male world handball player of the year – with the friendly support of the sports equipment manufacturer ADIDAS. We are looking for the two players who have put themselves in the spotlight in 1998 through top performances and exemplary sporting behaviour.
Thus in principle all players who made their mark at international level can be chosen. The decision will be taken solely by the readership of the WHM and all other handball fans. Independent of this the WHM editorial staff has listed a few female and male players. This list is not exhaustive in any way, however. Here our candidates:

MEN CANDIDATES 1998

Talant Duishebaev
(ESP)
already World Handball Player of the Year twice before and again putting in strong performances on the international stage this year
Nabil Gohar
(EGY)
has developed into one of the best line players in the world
Stefan Lövgren
(SWE)
technically adept top thrower of the new European Champions
Carlos Reinaldo Perez
(CUB)
Panamerican champion again with all his jumping strength
Sergej Pogorelow
(RUS)
a bundle of strength at the back with increasing playing class
Jackson Richardson
(FRA)
especially as a defender still the measure of all things
Daniel Stephan
(GER)
the centre was the best player of the 1998 European Championships
Kyung-shin Yoon
(KOR)
left-hander with equal qualities in defence and attack

 

WOMEN CANDIDATES 1998

Anna Ejsmont
(POL)
elegance and creativity in all back positions
Ausra Fridrikas
(AUT)
took the European Championships top scorers title with dynamism and great throwing strength
Trine Haltvik
(NOR)
fast and constantly moving player who develops goal pressure from the centre
Jeong-Ho Hong
(KOR)
the small left-hander with an extensive jumping and throwing repertoire
Christine Lindemann
(GER)
goalkeeper with constant top performances
Tonje Kjaergaard
(DEN)
multi-facetted pivot with a lion’s heart
Beata Siti
(HUN)
a lot of ideas and a joyful game from the central position
Valentina Radulovic
(MKD)
multi-facetted whirlwind on the right

Do you want a vote? Just write your chosen female and male players’ names on a postcard and send it to:

     International Handball Federation
     -World Handball Player 1998-
     P.O.Box 312
     4020 Basel
     Switzerland

The last date for entries is the 20th of February 1999. The IHF is again raffling off attractive prizes for all entrants - sports equipment from the company adidas.
So far the following female and male players have been chosen as the world handball players of the year:

YEAR

MEN

WOMEN

1988

Veselin Vujovic YUG Svetlana Kitic YUG

1989

Jae-Won Kang KOR Kim Hyun-Mee KOR

1990

Magnus Wislander SWE Jasmiza Kolar AUT

1991-93

- -

1994

Talant Duishebaev RUS Mia Hermansson-Högdahl SWE

1995

Jackson Richardson FRA Erszebet Koszis HUN

1996

Talant Duishebaev ESP O-Kyeong Lim KOR

1997

Stéphane Stoecklin FRA Anja Andersen DEN