Spaniard Ambros Martin has extended his contract as head coach of the Russian women's handball team ©Getty Images

Spaniard Ambros Martin has extended his contract as head coach of the Russian women's handball team through to after the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Martin took over from Yevgeni Trefilov, who guided Russia to the country's first women's Olympic handball title at Rio 2016, as head coach last August.

The 52-year-old, the first non-Russian to lead one of the nation's handball teams, is expected to lead the squad through to the end of the 2020-2021 season.

His tenure is set to include the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, should Russia qualify.

Russia claimed bronze at the 2019 Women's Handball World Championship in Japan ©Getty Images
Russia claimed bronze at the 2019 Women's Handball World Championship in Japan ©Getty Images

The contract extension was agreed by the Executive Committee of the Russian Handball Federation.

Martin, a former handball player who coached the Romanian team before taking up his current role, helped Russia's women to the bronze medal at last year's World Championship.

He left his position with Russian club Rostov-Don in July to solely focus on the national team, according to Russia's official state news agency TASS.

Russia have not yet secured their place in the women's handball competition at Tokyo 2020.

They are due to compete in one of three Olympic qualification tournaments in March.