David’s high hopes for handball
In his first tournament overseas, 18-year-old David Mekler-Peled helped Australia win bronze at the six-team U21 Men's Oceania Handball Challenge Trophy, hosted by the Cook Islands in early August.
SYDNEY teenager David Mekler-Peled decided to give the sport of handball a go when it was adopted into Moriah College’s year 10 sports program three years ago.
After all, his dad Nir was once an junior Israeli and senior Australian representative player.
Three years on, Mekler-Peled is a UNSW Handball Club player, a member of the NSW team and a junior Australian team representative.
In early August, the 18-year-old played in his first overseas tournament, helping Australia win bronze at the six-team International Handball Federation U21 Men’s Oceania Handball Challenge Trophy hosted by the Cook Islands.
Australia won three out of its five games, including a hard fought 28-21 victory over New Zealand.
The Aussies were brave in their 25-32 loss against the more experienced New Caledonian side, and were then outlasted 29-16 by Tahiti, who went on to become champions.
“We went to the tournament wanting to win it, but when we saw the level the French-speaking teams were at – Tahiti and New Caledonia – we knew it was going to be very difficult for us,” Mekler-Peled said.
“Tahiti were not only fast and powerful in attack, they also had a very good team mentality and synergy.
“We can learn a lot from the experience of playing them.”
Off the court, Mekler-Peled serves as the junior development officer at NSW Handball and is looking to generate more interest in the sport, which is hugely popular in Europe and is played at the Olympic Games and the Maccabiah Games.
“Australia didn’t have enough players to send a handball team to this year’s Maccabiah Games, but a goal of mine is to promote the sport within the Jewish community so that we can send a team next time.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
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