Three teams keep Rio 2016 goalball hopes alive
Russia, Portugal and Italy finished in the top three at the IBSA men’s Goalball European Championships C division and have now been promoted to the B division. 10 Sep 2013Russia came out of the blocks determined to take the gold medal, as a promotion to Group B was not enough for them.
Russia struck gold at last weekend’s IBSA men’s Goalball European Championships C division in Worcester, Great Britain, with Portugal taking the silver and Italy claiming the bronze.
By finishing in the top three, all of these teams will be promoted to the B division, keeping their chances of competing at the Rio 2016 Games alive.
The other six teams at the tournament no longer have a route to qualify for Rio 2016.
Russia came out of the blocks determined to take the gold medal, as a promotion to Group B was not enough for them. Very quickly they had a handy lead on Portugal in the final, and by the time the first half was passed the score was already 7-2 before they pushed the pedal further to make the final score 9-3.
In the bronze-medal match, a final promotion to the B division was on the line, with Great Britain and Italy battling it out.
From the outset the Italians were very determined, and, despite a lot of penalties, they capitalized on their opponents’ defensive mistakes to power to a 7-2 victory.
Final standings
1. Russia
2. Portugal
3. Italy
4. Great Britain
5. Netherlands
6. Greece
7. Croatia
8. Azerbaijan
9. Bulgaria