Handball
Victory against Slovenia: DHB women set course for the Olympics
The DHB women celebrated a successful start to the Olympic qualification. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
The German handball players delivered a concentrated performance at the start of the qualifying tournament for the Summer Games in Paris.
Germany’s handball players are on course for a strong performance taken to the Olympics. The team of national coach Markus Gaugisch won against Slovenia 31:25 (17:14) at the start of the qualifying tournament in Neu-Ulm and now has the best chance of taking part in the Olympics for the first time since Beijing 2008.
The best German thrower in front of 4,026 spectators was backcourt player Julia Maidhof with nine goals. Other opponents of the DHB selection are European Championship third place Montenegro on Saturday and outsider Paraguay on Sunday. In order to secure a ticket to the Olympics, the German team must at least finish second in the tournament.
Even before kick-off there was good news for the DHB selection. Co-captain Alina Grijseels reported fit on time just a week after suffering an ankle injury in the European Championship qualifier against Ukraine. The French legionnaire had to get going straight away in the fast-paced opening phase because Emily Bölk and Xenia Smits, who were in the backcourt, received time penalties early on.
The DHB team started powerfully and led by three goals for the first time at 6:3 after a good ten minutes. However, a few lapses in concentration allowed the Slovenians to equalize within a few minutes.
Goalkeeper Filter shines with numerous saves
However, the sixth place in the World Cup was not impressed by this and continued to act purposefully in attack. The reward was a renewed three-goal lead (11:8), which was extended to five goals four minutes before the break. Goalkeeper Katharina Filter played a major role in this, giving the German team the security they needed with numerous saves.
After the change, both teams started nervously and made a number of mistakes. The hosts’ lead remained constant at three to four goals. In addition to Maidhof, left winger Johanna Stockschläder was particularly convincing in attack, as she put all of her throws into the goal after a first failed attempt.
In the final phase, the German team pulled ahead again and was ahead goal by goal. Filter continued to provide strong support between the posts, and the attacks were mostly completed in a concentrated manner at the front. Success in the duel with the Slovenians was no longer in danger. With another win against Montenegro, the DHB selection can make the trip to the summer games perfect on Saturday.