The Montenegrin women’s handball team has missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games, which are set to take place in Paris this summer.

In their final match of the qualification tournament in Ulm, the “Lionesses” faced a defeat against Slovenia (30:26), marking their fourth consecutive absence from the Olympic Games.

“It’s tough to talk right now. From the very beginning, I sensed the weight of the moment. I know these players have high ambitions, but they have not faced this level of pressure in crucial matches before. Many were trying hard, which showed early on with some of their shots, but Slovenia took control. Those missed opportunities cost us dearly, and we couldn’t find our rhythm. Gros is an exceptional player; we opened up to her in an effort to prevent those shots, which then created space for others. We fought hard, and I’m regretful,” expressed coach Bojana Popović following the match.

After London, Rio, and Tokyo, Montenegro will once again not attend the Olympic Games in Paris.

“This is a young team with great potential. They need to endure games like this to understand what it feels like. The experience gained is invaluable. They are young and will eventually get the chance to experience the allure of the Olympic Games. This team works well together, and I am proud to have been their coach. They should hold their heads high because they gave it their all,” the coach remarked.

In an interview with RTCG after the match, Bojana Popović spoke about her future as the national team coach. She took over the position in 2021, succeeding Kim Rasmussen.

“I have been balancing two roles for three or four years, which is an incredibly challenging task for a woman. At this point, I feel it might be too much for me. I need to carefully consider my path moving forward. To be frank, had we qualified for the Olympic Games, my plan was to step down and let someone else take over, as I believe someone else might bring more energy to the role. I need to focus on the club, as we have significant work ahead. I understand the demands of both roles after these years. Thank you to everyone who supported us. We gave it our best. I’m proud of how we collaborated. We created a wonderful team, and I am thankful to them for that. I know they will continue to push forward and have learned valuable lessons for the future,” the coach told RTCG.

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