GB handball teams have high hopes

BRITISH Handball chairman John Brewer is confident both the GB men’s and women’s teams can spring a surprise at this summer’s Olympic Games after the draw was made yesterday.

Formed six years ago with especially to compete at the Games, many of the current squad had not played the game before London was named host city.

But they have made remarkable progress, the women having beaten African champions Angola and run former world champions Russia close.

Both sides face tough groups in the Games, but Brewer targets a quarter-final finish for both. The men have been drawn in Group A with reigning Olympic gold and silver medallists France and Iceland, Argentina, Sweden and Tunisia. The women are also in Group A along with Montenegro, Russia, Croatia, Brazil and Angola.

“This is the culmination of a long journey,” Brewer said. “When we got the Games back in 2005 many of our squads hadn’t even played handball. We had to take them as raw recruits and turn them into players and that has taken a lot of endeavour.

“We knew there wouldn’t be an easy game at the Olympics. Let’s be honest, we’re not favourites in either competition, but we have to judge our success not by the colour of the medal but by how well we do.”