Women’s handball forum in Ohrid: five legends sign regional declaration

Five former international stars gathered in Ohrid on September 26, 2026, for the first women's handball forum organized by the Handball Federation of North Macedonia at the Biljanini Izvori Sports Center. The event — held under the slogan “One game. One voice. One future.” — aimed to boost development, visibility and support for women's handball across the country and the region.

The panel brought together Indira Kastratović, Andrea Lekic, Lidija Horvat, Suzana Lazović and Dragana Cvijić, who each recounted their careers — from first steps in the sport to major matches and medals — and addressed the needs of today’s young players. Teams from the four countries taking part in the Trophy Macedonia tournament — North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia — attended, alongside local clubs and aspiring players.

Voices from the court: career, sacrifice and solidarity

Panelists discussed five themes: “My path”, “The price of success”, “Life off the court”, “The Balkans and women’s handball” and “Greater visibility for women’s handball.” Andrea Lekic emphasized discipline and love for the game and described a difficult recovery: “We all know how important it is to talk about women's handball, so many thanks to the Handball Federation of North Macedonia for the invitation. I think every athlete should be guided by love and discipline. Motivation is not constant, keep discipline..

“The Achilles tendon injury was the hardest period for me, then I thought running would be impossible for me. But that situation forced me to learn about myself again, from recovery to the moment I returned to the courts. Our sport has ups and downs, surround yourself with positive people from friends to coaches. I think a person should not be alone, but with people they trust for the hard moments. I was very disciplined; without that I would not have succeeded, love of the sport was the main guide. Critics come and go. The path from the start to the end of your career is the most important medal, you will meet a large number of friends,” she said.

Speakers also addressed the difficulties athletes face when becoming mothers, noting that many clubs include restrictive clauses or terminate contracts. The panel called for a systemic response so players who want to start families are supported rather than punished.

Dragana Cvijić spoke about public scrutiny and resilience: “When I was younger the comments hit me, but in Serbia we have something called stubbornness. The hardest part is to sleep that night after the comments, until the next match comes. In sport it's okay to lose, the most important thing is to have given your maximum…when you are aware you did everything, comments no longer have meaning.” She added: “They will judge you, they will wait for your mistake, but you should not give up…fights, falls and rises.”

Indira Kastratović urged parents not to discourage late starters — she began playing at 16 — and stressed that youngsters need encouragement rather than criticism. Lidija Horvat underlined that continued progress requires sacrifice and work: “There was a moment when you realise you stagnate; you must decide whether to stay at that level or give your maximum to move forward. Without work there is nothing. You sacrifice celebrations, family gatherings, holidays; there is always some sacrifice, the most important thing is to have a family that understands and supports you. If you had to be born again, I would choose the same sport.”

At the close of the forum the five panelists signed a declaration launching a joint initiative to connect the women’s handball community in North Macedonia and the region and to create better conditions for future generations. Attendees were also able to take photos with the guests and speak to the champions in person.

Photo: press material from the event