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 2013
Imagen
A picture of three blind men laying on the ground and trying to stop a ball

Great Britain's men's goalball team participated in the London 2012 Paralympic Games as the host nation.

ⒸIPC
By IPC

Russia 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