The European Handball Federation (EHF) has just issued the list of participants due to take part in the third edition of the EHF Challenge Trophy.

Apart from Malta, as hosts, the other five nations that will be taking part are Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein and Moldova.

This event will be played over five days with each team playing five games each in the preliminary round robin group stage. The matches for placings will then be played on the final day.

Malta will be organising this event for the first time following the first edition in Cyprus, in 1999, and Latvia two years ago. On those occasions the Malta team, under the guidance of national coach Alan Grima, ended their commitments in sixth and seventh place respectively.

Moldova start as favourites after finishing second in 1999 and third two years later. Ireland is the only other country to have participated in both previous events, finishing fifth in 1999 and eighth in 2001.

Great Britain will be making a welcome return to the event since their debut in 1999 when they ended up third. Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein will be making their debut in this competition.

The event, expected to lure the crowds to the University Sports Hall, is also expected to capture the interest of various media establishments around Europe.