France claim handball title
Monday, 25 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 24: As the French men's handball side kissed their gold medal, the curtain for the handball tournament at Beijing Olympic Games finally closed here Sunday. The Europeans maintained their dominance in this sport, with a clean podium sweep.
Two world titles and one European trophy, the French men's handball squad finally completed their glory collection in Beijing.
France own a pool of world-class players and claimed the title with an unbeaten record. Possessing the highest save rate in the tournament, keeper Thierry Omeyer entered the all-star squad, together with pivot Bertrand Gille and left back Daniel Narcisse.
Nikola Karabatic, newly elected International Handball Federation (IHF) World Handball Player of the Year in 2007, played a leading role in the star-stunned attack formation with his beating all assists and powerful shots. Owing to his eight goals in the final, "Les bleus" enjoyed an overwhelming victory against Iceland.
"We lost in the quarterfinals in last Olympics. That was a nightmare, really a nightmare. It took us long time to forget it. But I think it is maybe part of Olympics. We lost and learned from it, and today we won because of it," said the 24-year-old left back, whose team finished fifth at Athens 2004 Games.
Two world titles and one European trophy, the French men's handball squad finally completed their glory collection in Beijing.
France own a pool of world-class players and claimed the title with an unbeaten record. Possessing the highest save rate in the tournament, keeper Thierry Omeyer entered the all-star squad, together with pivot Bertrand Gille and left back Daniel Narcisse.
Nikola Karabatic, newly elected International Handball Federation (IHF) World Handball Player of the Year in 2007, played a leading role in the star-stunned attack formation with his beating all assists and powerful shots. Owing to his eight goals in the final, "Les bleus" enjoyed an overwhelming victory against Iceland.
"We lost in the quarterfinals in last Olympics. That was a nightmare, really a nightmare. It took us long time to forget it. But I think it is maybe part of Olympics. We lost and learned from it, and today we won because of it," said the 24-year-old left back, whose team finished fifth at Athens 2004 Games.