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IBSA Goalball Europeans B – back to the future

Date: September 30, 2014

Category: Goalball

At the 2014 IBSA Goalball European Championships Men & Women B were placed into the limelight as they played for medals.
 
Greece and Hungary were the first two to shine on this day. Greece had another 2-1 win. This was a result that they saw often throughout the championships and generally on the correct side. For Hungary this was another narrow defeat that will once again keep them in B division. Greece, however, will return to A division for the first time since 2011.
 
Next up on to the main stage was Ukraine and Israel. Israel had been the dominant force throughout the whole tournament and up to the semifinals had won all their matches convincingly. Despite all this, tournaments are about being able to peak at the right time and having your best team still fit for the end. Contrastingly, Ukraine was ready to play and get back to the A division. They were successful in doing this by defeating Israel 10-4. This means that Ukraine will join Sweden and Slovenia back in the A division.
 
In a very odd turn of events, the three nations that dropped from A division last year will return and likewise for C division, the three that had risen have all been relegated back to C. Following on from this, the four nations that had remained in B following the 2012 IBSA Goalball European Championships B will once again remain there for another two years.
 
A gold medal was next up for grabs. First it was between Denmark and Sweden. Suddenly the Danes were really firing and hitting the target. They were able to make it past the Swedish defense six times and the Swedes were only able to manage it twice. This means that the Danish women’s team left Hungary as the champions from the 2014 IBSA Goalball European Championships Men & Women B.
 
Unfortunately for the Swedish men, Slovenia was too strong for the Scandinavians on this occasion. Slovenia ran out winners 8-5. Slovenia was no longer willing to take any risks after nearly losing their quarter final and really kept their defense tight. This defeat handed Sweden their second silver medal for the day. Slovenia, however, can proudly wear the title of gold medalists at the 2014 IBSA Goalball European Championships Men & Women B.
 
We at IBSA Goalball would like to thank the local organizing committee, the Hungarian Paralympic Committee as well as the Hungarian Handball Federation, for organizing a top class tournament. Both officials and competitors alike have been very vocal in their compliments to the organisers for their fantastic efforts. We at IBSA Goalball are also very thankful for their hard work and attention to detail.
 
RESULTS
Women bronze Greece 2 Hungary 1
Men Bronze – Ukraine 10 Israel 4
Women Gold Denmark 6 Sweden 2
Men Gold Slovenia 8 Sweden 5
 

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