Italian sport manages to export its talents all over the world and in all sports disciplines: not only football, volleyball or basketball but also in handball.
The 25 year old champion, Anika Niederwieser , originally from Bressanone , after a long stay from (2011 to 2016) in the Army-Figh Futura Roma , decided to move to Germany in the Bundesliga in the Thuringer HC .
Unfortunately, the left-back ended the season prematurely due to a shoulder injury and will not even be able to participate in the European expedition of the Italian national handball team in Croatia .next June, but he’ll be cheering from home. Anika, operated on by Professor Tauber, reiterated that she is improving day by day also thanks to rehabilitation therapies and is aiming for the next season.
From a professional point of view, for her now she prefers to stay abroad to compete at high levels also from an international point of view.

How the season progresses with Thuringer
The season is drawing to a close and we are still fighting for 2 goals: the German cup , where we qualified for the Final Four and keep the second place in the Bundesliga which would guarantee access to the EHF Champions League .This year in the Champions League we went out to the main round and we didn’t manage to qualify for the quarter-finals. We have room for improvement and it is no coincidence that Thuringer have won the last six editions of the Bundesliga consecutively .

Beyond the injury, how do you consider your experience in the German championship so far

. I am very satisfied with my performances which, even if conditioned by my injury, were certainly of a high level. I started my adventure in Germany playing and winning the Super Cup as a protagonist scoring 8 goals in front of a very large audience(about 2000 spectators) and hot. This is already a huge difference because it is not so followed in Italy. We are still a little behind compared to other European countries but, analyzing the path that the Italian Handball Federation has taken in recent years and is planning for the future, I can say that the gap could very well be reduced .

The season is long and heavy
Yes, the season starts a month and a half before the start of the championship with a focus first on the physical and athletic part and then many test matches. During the week we prepare the matches by meticulously studying the opponent’s moves.

How is your relationship with the team and coach

? I feel good with my teammates. AndIt was easy to integrate into the group because they immediately put me at ease. We are a good group and this is also important. I also have a good relationship with the coach , he strongly believes in me and he has the great ability to know how to bring out the best in each of his players.

What is your greatest personal and team success so far?
My greatest personal success has been the award as best defender of the 2014 Beach Handball World Cup held in Recife in Brazil . With the National Beach Handball team we also won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in 2015.In the indoor it was access to the playoffs of the World Cup which will be played in Germany next December (the first time in history).
While one of the strongest emotions I felt on my debut in the EHF Champions League , but I cannot forget the thrills I feel when I sing the national anthem together with my companions and the public with Italy . From goosebumps.

From a sporting-cultural point of view, what do you prefer about Germany over Italy
The thing that struck me most is that in Germany there is already a preparatory activity for sport when you are children in schools. They focus a lot on education from every point of view.

Speaking more personally. Where the passion for handball was born
My family’s handball tradition has very ancient roots, my grandmother already loved this sport. Since I was a child I have spent every Saturday watching my father’s games. I first tried other sports (volleyball, swimming and athletics) but growing up I realized that my genes harbored a passion for both indoor and beach handball.

During your stay in Germany some awkward situation happened to you
During the trip to face the first trip, following a braking of the bus, the whole plate of spaghetti Bolognese spilled on me (laughs, ed).

What do you do in your free time
In the moments when I am away from the fields, I study or meet with my teammates. I especially like to travel and discover new places.

Do you think that after the end of your contract you will return to Italy

. I would like to stay abroad for a few more years to play at high international levels.
Dario Sette

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