In 2008, Poland defeated Georgia at the Kalisz Arena in Kalisz, Poland in the final match of a world handball tournament celebrating ninety years of handball in Poland. Although spectators wildly cheered the victorious home team, the real stars of the show were the Interplastic-Sapa goalposts.

”Key European and world handball federation officials enjoyed the match, but they were especially impressed with the goalposts!” says Roger Żółtowski, owner of Interplastic, a Poland-based sports equipment manufacturer and distributor. After the tournament, International Handball Federation (ihf) officials complimented Interplastic on its handsome yet ingenious goals and encouraged the company to fine-tune the goals to achieve ihf certification, which was received in 2010.


Durable markings

The 3 x 2 metre collapsible aluminium goals are made of 80 x 80 millimetre Sapa aluminium profiles, in accordance with pn-en 749 functionality and safety standards for handball goals, with internal ribbing to prevent distortion. They feature a specially-designed aluminium connector that allows them to be folded for easy storage and transport. Designers have also improved the durability of goalpost markings. Instead of using stickers, which can be easily scratched and damaged, goalpost stripes have been applied as a powder layer coating.


Used in the World Championship

The ihf-certified goals also performed specta­cularly at the 22nd Handball World Championship in Sweden in January 2011.

”It was noted at the last minute that the goals to be used at the 2011 Championship were not ihf-certified so we were asked at short notice if we could provide ihf-certified Interplastic goals,” says Jan Żółtowski, Interplastic managing director. ”Unfortunately, Poland did not win the championship, but Interplastic-Sapa technology saved the day.”
Interplastic handball goals are internationally recognised and can be found at all levels of training and competition.

Michele Jiménez