Melitta Cup 2026
Handball, team spirit and great emotions
January, 2026: 178 young handball fans played exciting games at the Melitta Cup 2026 and impressively proved how much fun and cohesion there is in team sports.
At the Melitta Cup 2026, the Otto Michelsohn Sports Centre in Minden was once again transformed into a place full of energy and enthusiasm. 178 students, trainees and employees' children of the Melitta Group stormed the pitch. Twelve teams from nine secondary schools and two teams of employees' children fought passionately for every ball and celebrated their successes together.
Minden's mayor Peter Kock opened the tournament, the players of our sports partner GWD Minden stood by the young athletes as godparents, cheered them on and honored all participants at the end. The Besselgymnasium Minden celebrated the cup for the second time in a row. The Realschule Nord from Bad Oeynhausen won silver at its premiere, the Gymnasium Porta Westfalica secured bronze.
Another highlight: the friendly match between the trainees of the Melitta Group and HARTING Technologies. This year, HARTING came out on top.
"Such tournaments show how much fun sporting competition is. For me, it is always impressive how much team spirit, ambition and joy are created here on the field," says Markus Stahlhut, Sports Partnerships Manager at the Melitta Group and organizer of the tournament. "With the Melitta Cup, we want to get children and young people excited about exercise and show them how much they can achieve together."
A big thank you goes to bkk melitta hmr for the action games, to the Minden-Bad Oeynhausen Child Protection Association, to Sitex for their support with the giveaways and to Holland Gourmet Service for the delicious catering.
Markus Stahlhut is already looking ahead: "The Melitta Cup is a real highlight of the year for many. In 2027, we will celebrate 100 years of handball tradition together with GWD Minden - it will be a very special sports festival!"
Photos: Krischi Meier, Petershagen
