2013 IHF World Championship silver medallists Serbia opened their Germany 2017 campaign with a 43:23 victory against PR of China in Round 1, and followed that decisive win with a 34:21 result versus Cameroon in Round 2. The team are off to a strong start in Group D following their disappointing 15th place at the 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark, helped by the return of crucial players such as Sanja Damnjanovic, Dragana Cvijic and 2013 World Handball Player of the Year Andrea Lekic. 

Coach Ljubomir Obradovic did not need to rely on his biggest stars to win the opening matches, and Lekic is yet to take her first steps on the court at Germany 2017. Lekic is likely to be a very important part of Serbia’s World Championship campaign. Following game one, ihf.info spoke to the Youth Olympic Games Ambassador in an exclusive interview to get her perspective on the team’s performance, their goals at Germany 2017, and the importance of being a role model for young players. 

ihf.info: The first game is out of the way. How are you and the team feeling about now?

Andrea Lekic: Always the first game at every championship is nervous, a little bit, but I think we really played a very good match especially in defence where we stuck together and played aggressive. I’m really happy and satisfied that we opened the championship like this and I hope we’re going to continue with this rhythm. 

ihf.info: Can you tell us about Serbia’s goals at Germany 2017?

Andrea Lekic: In the last three or four years, except in 2013, we didn’t have good results at World Championships, so I hope that we are going to progress the step forward. But for now, we are going match by match honestly, because we really don’t know how we are going to react match by match, so I cannot make a prognosis and it’s also not good for the team. But first of all, of course it’s the eighth-final, and I hope we are going to play well in the next matches. 

ihf.info: As Serbia won the silver medal at the 2013 World Championship at home, you’ve experienced what it is to play a successful campaign all the way to the final. Can you tell us a bit about the art of playing a successful tournament? 

Andrea Lekic: Experience says that you have to prepare step by step, you have to prepare your head not to think too much forward. I played the final in 2013, and it’s the most beautiful moment in every sports career. When you feel this once, you want to play it always, so I hope that we can make big things but still, we have to go very patient and slow. 

ihf.info: In 2013 you were the hosts. In 2017, you will face hosts Germany in Group D. What do you think about meeting the home team knowing what is like to be the host country?

Andrea Lekic: It’s always good to play against the host team because the hall is going to be full and the atmosphere is going to be amazing. I’m a player who likes to play in front of a lot of audience. It’s going to be challenging because I felt how it is to play as a host — it’s a special energy and special motivation when you play in your own country. I think it’s going to be really tough and really hard. It’s going to be an interesting match. 

ihf.info: You have your own handball academy where you work with children. Here at Germany 2017 there are former players such as Grit Jurack acting as ambassadors for the tournament. What do you think about the importance of prominent handball players being role models? 

Andrea Lekic: I think that handball gave us a lot. I really gained a lot from this sport and I want to give it back. Helping the children, teaching them the basic things, and before everything teaching them to have good friendships and strive for high goals — it’s really the most beautiful thing about this sport.