For the first time in their history the men’s handball team from Argentina has qualified for the Olympic Games. The Gauchos booked their ticket to London 2012 after winning the final of the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, against Brazil 26:23 (15:14)at Monday night 24 October local time. The day before, the Brazilian women had clearly beaten Argentina in the women’s final.
The first half was a real rollercoaster: First Brazil was ahead 5:2, before Argentina scored four straight goals, then Brazil again took a 12:7 lead, before the Gauchos hit a 8:2 series to the halftime score of 15:14. After the break Argentina extended the margin to 21:16 in the 43rd minute, but the Brazilian resistance was not broken, as they again reduced the gap to 22:24 in the 57th minute. The 25:22, the fifth goal of Diego Simonet , brought the decision for the Gauchos, who had been the best non-European team at the 2011 World Championship in Sweden where they ranked twelfth. The top scorers in this final were Felipe Ribeiro (Brazil) and Federico Fernandez (Argentina) with six goals each.
After missing the 2008 Olympics by failing at the qualification tournament, this victory is the biggest success in the history of Argentine handball. Aside the Gauchos, Great Britain (host) and France (World Champion) have already qualified for the men’s handball tournament in London. The next participant will be known on 2 November, when the Asian Olympic Qualification comes to an end. The European and African Championships will be played in January 2012.
Six more participants will be decided at the Olympic Qualification Tournaments in April 2012, for which Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Croatia, Iceland, Hungary and now Brazil and Chile have already qualified.
At the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Chile took the bronze medal thanks to a 27:24 (12:10) victory in the bronze final against the Dominican Republic. Canada (26:23 over Mexico) and USA (39:35 against Venezuela) won the placement matches.
Brazil had beaten Dominican Republic in the first semi-final 41:17 (18:8), as the “Gauchos” were the lucky 26:25 (15:11) winner against Chile.
Final ranking:
Men’s tournament in Guadalajara:
Gold: Argentina
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Chile
4. Dominican Republic
5. Canada
6. Mexico
7. USA
8. Venezuela
