# Kosovo women's national handball team

The Kosovo women's national handball team represents Kosovo in international women's handball and is controlled by the Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competition in 2015, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

## History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953 Kosovo Handball Federation was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation.
In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship.
Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Kosovo Handball Federation began operating independently.
In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.

## Team
### Current squad

The following players were selected to participate at the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship qualification matches, between 3 and 5 June, 2021.
Matches and goals as of 27 April 2022.
Head coach: Agron Shabani
* No.
* Pos.
* Name
* Date of birth (age)
* Height
* App.
* Goals
* Club
* 1
* GK
* Njomëza Kelmendi
* (1994-03-24) 24 March 1994 (age 30)
* 170
* 19
* 1
* KHF Vushtrria
* 2
* LW
* Alberina Halitaj
* (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 (age 24)
* 161
* 3
* 0
* KHF Istogu
* 3
* RW
* Areta Istrefi
* 172
* 4
* 3
* PSV Recklinghausen
* 5
* LB
* Elma Kameri
* (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 (age 27)
* 178
* 18
* 25
* KHF Istogu
* 7
* LB
* Mirela Gjikokaj
* (1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 (age 25)
* 180
* 23
* 83
* Follo HK Damer
* 8
* LB
* Burneta Rama
* (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 (age 34)
* 174
* 9
* 29
* KHF Vushtrria
* 10
* RW
* Fitore Aliu
* (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 24)
* 173
* 20
* 36
* SG Kappelwindeck
* 11
* LB
* Arlinda Hajdari
* 173
* 7
* 22
* Ringkøbing Håndbold
* 12
* GK
* Rinesa Uka
* (2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 (age 23)
* 175
* 7
* 1
* KHF Prishtina
* 14
* LW
* Pashke Marku
* 173
* 11
* 27
* HSC Kreuzlingen
* 15
* LW
* Albina Rugova
* (1997-05-30) 30 May 1997 (age 27)
* 167
* 22
* 37
* KHF Istogu
* 17
* LW
* Aida Stagova
* (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 (age 29)
* 165
* 27
* 20
* KHF Prishtina
* 24
* RB
* Mirjeta Bytyqi
* 165
* 4
* 9
* ZRK Mlinotest Adjovscina
* 27
* CB
* Marigona Hajdari
* 180
* 9
* 24
* Ringkøbing Håndbold
* 28
* LB
* Alma Nivokazi
* (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22)
* 165
* 3
* 1
* KHF Prishtina
* 33
* GK
* Blerta Ahmetxhekaj
* (2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 (age 23)
* 180
* 7
* 0
* KHF Istogu
* 44
* PV
* Suzana Ujkiç
* (1993-09-16) 16 September 1993 (age 31)
* 176
* 9
* 18
* KHF Istogu
* 45
* CB
* Njoma Zogaj
* 176
* 1
* 7
* EH Aalborg
* 77
* PV
* Meltem Ylberi
* (2001-08-15) 15 August 2001 (age 23)
* 177
* 7
* 5
* Spono Eagles

### Coaches

* Florent Beqiri (2014–2018)
* Agron Shabani (2018 - )

### Captains

* Leonora Demaj (2017 - )

### Individual all-time records
## Kit suppliers

Since 2019, Kosovo's kits have been supplied by Kempa.