Have Montenegro found a 'new Popovic'?

The Women's 17 EHF EURO is a pool for up and coming young female handball talents - and Montenegro's 17-year-old right back Djurdjina Malovic is arguably one of them.

The Budocnost player is the leading goalscorer of her team (24 goals in three matches) and has been one of the key assets for her team in its quest of reaching the final tournament's main round.

The big talent of Montenegrin handball started playing the sport at the age of 12.

"I remember my first training, it was five years ago. I’ve started this sport because my physical education pushed me into handball as I was tall and left handed," Malovic told eurohandball.com.

"It was very exciting day for me. Everything was new for me. It was also very happy day, because I’ve met many friends.

"I tried a many sports, but handball is unique for me. I can’t imagine my life without handball now."

Because of her impressive prowesses, many accept her as the natural leader of the team.

"Being the leader is a great feeling, but what is important is the team and not the individual players. The question is only who shines in the next matches."

Training hard to become the best

As many young handball players do, Malovic emulates an idol.

"If you play in Montenegro, your choice is easy, you want to be like Bojana Popovic.

"She was an absolutely great player. Everyone who plays handball in my country wants to repeat her success," she said.

Despite her young age Malovic already got her taste of what it is like to play for the senior's national team as she was nominated for the Mediterranean Games, and many regard her as a potential candidate for the Montenegrin team that will take to the court at the 2013 World Championship in Serbia.

"I am thrilled that I have been selected for the senior team. (But) I know that I have to learn and work hard to become one of the best," said Malovic