Medway has been chosen as the area that will host an international women’s handball tournament for the first time in the United Kingdom.

The women’s European Handball Federation Challenge Cup comes to the UK when London Olympia takes on Switzerland’s LK Zug at Medway Park in November, and tickets are now on sale.

Large crowds flocked to Medway Park in 2015 when the international sporting venue hosted the men’s under 21 world championships qualifiers, and spectators are promised an action-packed weekend of live sport once again.

The international club matches between London Olympia and LK Zug will take place at Medway Park from 6pm on Saturday, 19 and from 11.30am on Sunday, 20 November.

The weekend’s action also includes junior, development and student fixtures on the purpose-built court being installed at Medway’s centre of sporting excellence in Gillingham. Daily tickets, which cost £5 for adults and under 16s go free, went on sale on Tuesday, 1 November.

International table tennis match

Medway Park will be welcoming more international athletes on Tuesday, 22 November when England’s table tennis team take on Slovenia in the European Women’s Team Championships qualification match – the first time Medway will host an international table tennis competition.

The teams are closely positioned in the world rankings and victory for England would go a long way towards determining their qualifying position for the European Championships, so the match is expected to be thrilling. The two teams do battle from 7pm.

Tickets for the table tennis are £5 for adults, with one free child ticket available for each adult ticket bought. Additional tickets for under 16s cost £3.

Watch ‘fast-paced’ sports at Medway Park

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “It is a great honour for Medway Park to have been chosen to host the first ever Challenge Cup match in the United Kingdom and we are also delighted to hold our first international table tennis fixture.

“Both sports offer fast-paced action and I hope the people of Medway will take up the opportunity of watching international athletes in action right on their doorstep.”

Medway is helping to build the handball legacy

Diaraye Diallo, Chairman of Olympia Handball Club, said: “We are honoured to make British handball history by hosting the prestigious European Handball Federation Challenge Cup for the first time in the UK.

“For our women’s team, this is a fourth qualification in as many years for a European competition – twice for the EHF Cup and twice for the Challenge Cup. To us, these events are an opportunity to further English handball and we are proud to build on this legacy. We drew LK Zug of Switzerland for the third round, a team with solid experience in the European competitions. We will have two tough games but ones we very much look forward to!”

For more information about both international sporting events and to book your ticket, visit www.medway.gov.uk/sport

Please find below a full list of the matches:

Saturday, 19 November
•         2pm – Medway Dragons v London Olympia Women development match
•         4pm – London Olympia v Coventry Sharks Men’s Super8s match
•         6pm – London Olympia v LK Zug

Sunday, 20 November
•         11.30am – London Olympia v LK Zug
•         2pm – London Olympia v Medway Dragons U18 Girls’ match