News
Historic triumph for SKEMA at the FFSU French Championship: a first for both men’s and women’s handball
For the first time, both SKEMA handball teams – men’s and women’s – qualified for the final stages of the national FFSU tournament. The result: the men’s team were crowned N2 champions of France, while the women’s team finished runners-up. A remarkable achievement that rewards a season of collective effort.
Thibaud Dechaine, a third-year student in the Master in Management (PGE) programme, plays as a left winger. He trains twice a week with SKEMA Lille’s men’s team and reflects with pride on a hard-earned success: “We didn’t get off to the start we wanted – our first match ended in a loss – but we bounced back and gained momentum throughout the tournament, all the way to the final win against Centrale Lille.” The men’s journey was far from straightforward: a group-stage defeat to CentraleSupélec was followed by a crucial victory over ESSCA Angers.
The team went on to qualify for the quarter-finals and then secured three consecutive wins: against Polytech Montpellier, NEOMA Reims (the 2024 champions), and finally, a revenge victory over CentraleSupélec in the final. “This win is the outcome of a united group that’s been working together since September. Everyone played their part, and we owe a great deal to our coach, Nicolas Martin – we couldn’t have done it without him,” said Maxime Taupin, goalkeeper and final-year PGE student, enrolled in the MSc Global Supply Chain Management & Procurement.
Weekly training sessions pay off
The long-term commitment paid off. Two weekly training sessions, a driven squad, and students who managed to stay motivated despite academic pressure. Nicolas Martin, PE teacher on the Lille campus and coach of both teams, explained: “Seeing both SKEMA Lille teams reach the FFSU finals is more than just a result – it’s proof that with commitment, hard work and a strong team spirit, anything is possible. As a coach, I’m proud of them.”
The women’s team shine through
The women’s team enjoyed an equally impressive run. They claimed two group-stage wins over NEOMA Rouen and Paris Dauphine, followed by a well-controlled semi-final against IFPEK Rennes. In the final, they put up a strong fight against EM Lyon, ultimately finishing with an honourable defeat. A well-deserved place on the second step of the podium.
