Grankulla IFK won 3–1 in the Women’s Handball WC finals in Dicken.
Grankulla IFK won the women’s handball Finnish championship after a 14-year break. GrIFK beat defending champion Dicken in the fourth final 23–22 to take the championship 3–1. GrIFK had won its previous championship in 2009.
Dicken led the match with seven goals at his best, but GrIFK pulled away at the end. Johanna Hilli scored 11 goals in the decisive final. The championship was Hill’s first in a long career and it was secured on his home field.
– Crazy feeling. I don’t know if I have understood this yet, maybe tomorrow, Hilli said.
– We somehow found a new level in our game when Dicken led with quite a few goals. Then you have to lead after 60 minutes have been played.
Sandra Laitinen scored three important goals as GrIFK took the lead.
– All the goals were really important when we caught up and passed. I looked at the board to see that it’s getting a bit busy now, I have to put the balls in the goal.
Laitinen praised Hill.
– He is an absolutely amazing leader. Johanna was my first coach when I was 10 years old. Since then, he has been one of my role models and now one of my best friends.
Dicken has dominated women’s handball in recent years. It won the championships in 2015–18 and 2021 and 2022.