Manager moves Bölk from position, subsequently reinstates her role
Fiery Return for Emily Bölk: DHB Captaincy Stripped, Reinstated
In a twist of events, Emily Bölk, the renowned figure in Germany's women's handball team, is back in the squad following a demotion as the team's captain. Bölk is gunning for her spot in the upcoming World Cup. Despite the controversy, both the coach and the player remain tight-lipped about the reasons for the demotion.
With a turbulent past, Wednesday's clash against Denmark in Hamburg carries an added significance for wing player Bölk. Born and raised in the city, this match couldn't be more personal for her. The game, airing at 8:20 PM on DF1 and live on ntv.de, promises to be a thrilling one.
As the training camp began on Monday, national coach Markus Gaugisch announced Bölk's return: "Emmy is back with us now, and I'm sure she'll give it her all." Struggling to secure a spot for the home World Cup, Bölk, a household name in German handball, is making a comeback to the DHB women's team after a string of challenging months.
At first, Gaugisch had decided to revoke Bölk's captaincy and initially did not nominate her. However, Gaugisch stressed that a door was never closed, and it was always open. Now, Bölk has the opportunity to prove her worth in the crucial encounters against the European Championship runners-up in Hamburg and Aabenraa, Denmark, on Saturday.
Gaugisch remains vague about the reasons for temporarily demoting the 132-time national player. "There were never any issues that we held against her or that didn't work out. Instead, we saw that younger players were pushing for this position. That's why we made this decision," said the DHB coach.
Bölk has yet to voice her opinion on the situation, preferring to let her actions speak through her jersey with top club Ferencvaros Budapest. She's won the Hungarian Cup and is leading the capital club in a neck-and-neck league race with rivals Györi ETO. In the Champions League, Bölk hopes to return to the Final Four.
Gaugisch's decision to demote Bölk and subsequently reinstate her came after a disappointing European Championship and Olympic elimination in the quarter-finals. Previously appointed captains with Alina Grijseels in 2021, Bölk and Grijseels were demoted, and Antje Döll now leads the team into the home World Cup (26 November to 14 December). The selection process for the winter highlight is in full swing - and Bölk is right in the thick of it.
After being reinstated as a team member by the DHB coach Markus Gaugisch, Emily Bölk, the respected handball player, will face Denmark in a personal match at her hometown of Hamburg. As a resident of the community, Bölk is eager to contribute to the upcoming World Cup. To prepare for this, she has been actively engaged with the institution (team) in training and has even reignited her role as the team's captain. To catch the game, tune into DF1 or ntv.de at 8:20 PM.
