Martina Capdevila: "It's a source of pride to see so many girls who aspire to do what I do."

GranollersMartina Capdevila Barbany (Granollers, 2001) will be enjoying a very special weekend. Starting Friday, the capital of Vallès Oriental will host the final phase of the Queen's Cup for handball, with KH-7 BM Granollers hosting the tournament and vying for the title for the first time. The team from Vallès will face Balonmano Morvedre on Friday in the quarterfinals and are dreaming of reaching Sunday's final thanks to the goals scored by Capdevila, who at 23 has already scored more than 500 in the league. In fact, this year she leads the top scorers' standings. Now she wants to win a title in front of her hometown. Her family's history is the story of Granollers handball.

For people who aren't from Granollers, what does handball mean to your city?

— We always say that Granollers is the birthplace of Catalan handball. I think it's a city where you can breathe handball, where everyone knows the team is important, and people, whenever they can, come to the pavilion when we have big matches. Granollers was an Olympic host for this sport, and we have many players. Handball has always been a thing here. We have a lot of history and a great future.

Hosting the Queen's Cup will be special. Can we win?

— Yes, the Queen's Cup is very important. Being able to bring it to the city of Granollers is something we'll remember for a lifetime. The team is in great form. We haven't won in the league for two matches, but the defeat was against Atlético Guardés, the league leaders, who I'd say have only lost one game. And even though we had absences, we played quite well. The team is in good physical and mental shape, with a lot of desire. No one can beat us when it comes to hope. Our dream is to win the Cup, but we have to take it step by step. It's still a different competition than the league, where the things that have happened so far aren't as important. Anything can happen here.

Your mother, Gemma Barbany, played from 1976 to 1985. She was one of the pioneers of women's handball. I understand you grew up in a household where the sport was constantly discussed.

— Yes, we're a family whose maternal heritage is handball. My maternal grandfather, Joan Barbany, was one of the first Granollers players; he helped found the club and held various positions. He was always linked to the club, as were other family members. And then my mother played, as did my siblings. All four of us played, although now I'm the only one who plays. I've been involved with this sport since I was born. That I can now experience the Cup in Granollers, with that legacy, is exciting.

Your mother played at a time when there was little support for women's sports. What does she tell you about that pioneering era?

— The truth is, she describes it as the best time of her life. She went to Vedruna School, and a group of friends decided to form one of the first girls' teams. They gradually formed teams until they were able to compete. She has many memories. The other day she was showing photos and documents, like match reports. It wasn't easy; there was no support, but she was excited. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury and couldn't continue playing, but then she decided to coach. Now she looks at me and her eyes fill with pride at seeing her daughter make it this far.

Is it true that at thirteen you could have been a tennis player instead of a handball player?

— Yes, yes, I also competed at the highest level in tennis until I was thirteen, but at that moment I received a scholarship to study at the Blume residence. It was time to take the plunge and decide what sport I would pursue. I opted for handball; it wasn't difficult to choose; it was what I liked most.

If you had chosen tennis, you would have broken the hearts of many family members, wouldn't you?

— Yes, although not my father, who comes from the world of tennis.

Why did you end up choosing handball over tennis?

— One of the things I valued most when deciding on one sport or the other was that it's a team sport. In handball, you share the achievements, the moments, the defeats... you have a team that ultimately becomes your family, because you spend more time with them than with your family. I really like that it's a team game. Making all the pieces fit together to play tactically, to defend, to score goals. It's also a challenge in terms of character, making it all work. It's very comforting to see that by joining forces you can achieve goals. That if everyone does what they should, things can happen. If you win alone, it's your success. That's fine, but I think shared achievements are much better.

When you won the Blume scholarship, you left home at a very young age. Was it difficult?

— Well, it was super easy, really. My parents always tell me that it was difficult for them to see their thirteen-year-old daughter march alone, but I immediately made friends. You march at an age when it can be really fun to hang out with other girls who play sports. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

You're an international and a top-level player, but you've never stopped studying.

— That's right, I've always been very clear about it. I studied audiovisual communication at the University of Vic and now I'm doing a master's degree in advertising strategy and creativity at the UOC. If boys struggle to make a living from handball, girls find it even more difficult. At home, they always instilled in me the need to study and develop, while also competing.

Granollers is currently the only Catalan women's team in the First Division.

— Yes. In fact, I think it will be one of the few in Europe with both the men's and women's teams in the First Division. I think few people are aware of this. It speaks well of the club's work, which has been investing in us. I've been here all my life, but the women's team has only been in the First Division for seven years, and I've seen how changes have come along, allowing us to train better, compete better, and have our own locker room. Details that matter. This club is my life. And the women's team, aside from the Catalan Cup, has never won a title. If we do, it would be a big deal. Besides, the men's team hasn't won a title for quite some time, so everyone is excited about this cup.

Is it true that you are superstitious when you play?

— A lot. Too much, sometimes. During warm-ups, I have a lot of tics, a lot of phrases I always have to say, I have to wear the same type of clothes for Thursday or Friday workouts, the headbands...

You had my mother talking to you about handball at home, but you grew up in an era with few female role models. Are you aware that many girls now want to be like you?

— Things have changed. As you say, I grew up in a time when people would ask me who my role model was, and I'd say Joan Cañellas. When I was a girl, the role models were men. I didn't say women. And then they started showing games on television, things started improving... and things started to get going. You don't always realize you're a role model, but it's a source of pride to see so many girls who aspire to do what I do. I couldn't start playing until I was seven because there were no teams, and now we have pre-Benjamin teams. And mini teams for five-year-old girls. We have a lot of girls in the club. We're going to play the Cup with them in mind, too.