In the opening match of the 2026 Wartburg Cup in Eisenach, SG Flensburg-Handewitt defeated the host team, ThSV Eisenach, 31–28 (15–17). The visitors managed to overcome the deficit they carried over from the first half in the second half, securing their opening victory.
The SG’s top scorer title is shared by a trio: captain Emil Bergholt, his Danish compatriot and namesake Emil Jakobsen, and Aymeric Minne. The French playmaker has recovered from his hand injury and is able to play. That’s good news, as the SG is still without Luca Witzke, Kent Robin Tönnesen, and Blaz Blagotinsek. In their place, youngsters Onno Buschmann and Zacharias Minning from the partner team DHK Flensborg are in the lineup.
“It’s always tough to play against Eisenach, and we had some initial trouble in one-on-one situations. We handled it better in the second half,” said Aleš Pajović.
“However, the many chances we missed really hurt. The defense fought hard, and the determination was there. Now we need to improve on the details, but we’re still in preseason, so I’m satisfied with the performance.”
In two weeks, on August 28 at 8 p.m., the team will face Eisenach again. To kick off the new season in the Opel Bundesliga, the SG will host the Thuringians at their home arena, the GGW Arena.
Before that, however, preseason training continues—specifically this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. In their second match at the Wartburg Cup, the SG will face TBV Lemgo Lippe, which lost 30–35 to SC Magdeburg on Friday. Flensburg will take on SCM to close out the tournament on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SG: Burić, S. Möller – Pytlick (3), Buschmann, Bergholt (6), Grgić (3), Minning, Horgen, Volz, Novak (2), Kirkelökke, Minne (6), Arnarsson 1, Jakobsen (6/3), L. Möller (4)