Iván Miró and Mateo López from Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto received recognition from the City Council after winning silver at the Championship of Spain for Autonomous Selections.
The plenary hall of the City Council of Sagunto hosted a tribute on Wednesday to Iván Miró and Mateo López, two young athletes from Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto who were crowned runners-up in the Spanish beach handball championships for children with the Valencian selection.
Both were called up by the regional coaches after competing in a minor tournament in Jávea during the summer to maintain their fitness. In the Championship of Spain for Autonomous Selections (CESA), the Valencian team surpassed teams from the Canary Islands, La Rioja, Madrid, and Aragón, among others, and only fell in the final against Andalucía.
The mayor of Sagunto, Darío Moreno, and the councillor for Physical Activity, Health, and Sports, Javier Timón, participated in the event. Moreno highlighted the versatility of the athletes and emphasised the importance of grassroots work in local clubs: “We insist to all clubs on the importance of nurturing the schools, teaching values beyond strictly sporting success, such as perseverance and overcoming challenges.”
For his part, Timón described Iván and Mateo as “an example” for also competing during the break period. “That school work, instilling values that serve as an example for others is very important because it conveys the best image of our local sport,” he added.
The athletes themselves acknowledged that it was “an honour” to represent Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto and stated that they had never imagined reaching a CESA. They also thanked their teammates and families for their support.
The event, held in the plenary hall of the City Council, is part of the municipal policy of recognising grassroots sports. Both the mayor and the councillor agreed that these achievements elevate the name of local sports beyond competition on the court.
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