The Australian handball team have taken themselves to Sweden to compete at the 2011 World Handball Championships this week. Players have paid their own way to a competition where captain Josh Parmenter says they only have one ambition.
The Australian handball team have taken themselves to Sweden to compete at the 2011 World Handball Championships this week. Players have paid their own way to a competition where captain Josh Parmenter says they only have one ambition.
“ONE WIN! This is why we are here and what we sacrifice our professional and family lives for,” Parmenter, a lawyer from Sydney, said at the start of the January 13-30 event.
This is the true underdog story. These 21 Aussies have left jobs behind at home and some from clubs scattered across Europe. They face the best teams in the world from countries where handball is a hallowed national sport.
The team secured sponsorship in Sweden for equipment, clothing and hotel expenses, but players have still spent more than $2000 each in their quest for just one victory.
They do not earn money for competing. Instead, they compete for the chance to represent Australia and one day realise Australia’s cherished hopes of qualifying for an Olympic Games. Australia has only competed in handball at the Sydney 2000 Games by virtue of being the host nation.
Thirty-seven- year-old Sydney Olympian Kristian Groenintwoud is part of the team competing in Sweden and is making his return to handball after a 10 year hiatus.
“We spend too much of our lives telling ourselves what can’t be done but not enough telling ourselves what we can,” said Groenintwoud of his return.
Qualifying for London 2012 will be the type of uphill battle this team has become accustomed to. Olympic handball is one of the sports where there is no automatic quota place for Oceania continental representation, meaning Australia could be fighting the European powerhouses for a spot.
The Australians opened their 2011 World Championship campaign with a match against 2008 European Champions Denmark at Malmö stadium. Malmö is just 15 minutes from Copenhagen and the Danes were out in full support.
Competing in 100% recycled polyester uniforms, the Aussies are fast earning praise in Sweden for their spirit and their efforts to simply get to Sweden. The Australians lost the opener 47-12 in a game they dedicated to the victims of the Queensland floods.
Playing against Serbia in the second round, the team achieved their match goal. Although they lost 35-18, it was the first time since the Sydney Olympics that the men’s team have held a top European team to a margin of 17 goals.
“Despite having ominous odds against us, the Aussie team just keeps coming out and fighting against international teams that continue to underestimate our fighting spirit,” Groenintwoud said.
The Australians lost their next two matches and have one preliminary round remaining, but the performance during that Serbia match was worth the trip to Sweden, and more.
“Tonight, Serbia learned that while we may not yet be ready to beat them outright, we are no push overs and our fighting spirit will never fade. This is the legacy that continues within the Australian National teams,” Groenintwoud said.
“The Aussie fighting spirit is still alive and well in this next generation of players and I am proud to be in the same team with them.”
Taya Conomos with AHF
AOC
“ONE WIN! This is why we are here and what we sacrifice our professional and family lives for,” Parmenter, a lawyer from Sydney, said at the start of the January 13-30 event.
This is the true underdog story. These 21 Aussies have left jobs behind at home and some from clubs scattered across Europe. They face the best teams in the world from countries where handball is a hallowed national sport.
The team secured sponsorship in Sweden for equipment, clothing and hotel expenses, but players have still spent more than $2000 each in their quest for just one victory.
They do not earn money for competing. Instead, they compete for the chance to represent Australia and one day realise Australia’s cherished hopes of qualifying for an Olympic Games. Australia has only competed in handball at the Sydney 2000 Games by virtue of being the host nation.
Thirty-seven- year-old Sydney Olympian Kristian Groenintwoud is part of the team competing in Sweden and is making his return to handball after a 10 year hiatus.
“We spend too much of our lives telling ourselves what can’t be done but not enough telling ourselves what we can,” said Groenintwoud of his return.
Qualifying for London 2012 will be the type of uphill battle this team has become accustomed to. Olympic handball is one of the sports where there is no automatic quota place for Oceania continental representation, meaning Australia could be fighting the European powerhouses for a spot.
The Australians opened their 2011 World Championship campaign with a match against 2008 European Champions Denmark at Malmö stadium. Malmö is just 15 minutes from Copenhagen and the Danes were out in full support.
Competing in 100% recycled polyester uniforms, the Aussies are fast earning praise in Sweden for their spirit and their efforts to simply get to Sweden. The Australians lost the opener 47-12 in a game they dedicated to the victims of the Queensland floods.
Playing against Serbia in the second round, the team achieved their match goal. Although they lost 35-18, it was the first time since the Sydney Olympics that the men’s team have held a top European team to a margin of 17 goals.
“Despite having ominous odds against us, the Aussie team just keeps coming out and fighting against international teams that continue to underestimate our fighting spirit,” Groenintwoud said.
The Australians lost their next two matches and have one preliminary round remaining, but the performance during that Serbia match was worth the trip to Sweden, and more.
“Tonight, Serbia learned that while we may not yet be ready to beat them outright, we are no push overs and our fighting spirit will never fade. This is the legacy that continues within the Australian National teams,” Groenintwoud said.
“The Aussie fighting spirit is still alive and well in this next generation of players and I am proud to be in the same team with them.”
Taya Conomos with AHF
AOC
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