The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] congratulates the Australian team which competed in the 19th World University Championships held during 5th – 13th July 2008 in Jesolo Beach, Italy.
The Australian Team reflected well on Australian handball and demonstrated the importance of participation and not just the results. Although the scores were not great, the Team impressed everyone with their passionate play. In fact, the Team was well regarded and considered the most popular team at the competition, by both the players and the volunteer staff.
[For results of all the Australian games, click here.
In addition to the fantastic support by the locals to the Australian Team, about thirty Australian backpackers who came to watch the Australian games against the Czech Republic and the Italians added their lively chants and cheering to boost the Team’s morale. The best result for the Australian’s was against Cyprus ( 19 – 33). At the completion of that game, Gilles Guillemin, the Australian Coach was congratulated for playing in fantastic spirit, and not giving up against stronger teams. It was widely regarded that the Australian Team was everybody’s favourite team.
The Manager of the Australian Team, Matt Walsh was given a role of ‘Technical Commissioner’ by the competition governing body FISU. The role of this commission is to represent the interests of all members of the competition by discussing player/official appeals and technical matters. The aim is to ensure the integrity of the refereeing, staff and the 19th World University Championships. The other members of the technical commission were Frantisek Taborsky (FISU), Adriano Ruocco (EHF), Claudio Morandin, Yasar Sevim (TUR), Grigori Guterman (LTU) & Djorde Lalosevic (SRB). In electing an Australian member to the Technical Commission, FISU felt this was an important and rare opportunity to have a player/manager and member of Oceania representing all members of the competition.
The AHF is hopeful that more Australian university handball groups will join in future world university championships.
