European powerhouse France overwhelmed host China 33-19, grabbing their second win at Beijing Olympic men's handball event?in Beijing?on Tuesday.
Paced by Nikola Karabatic, the 2007 IHF World Player of the Year, France controlled the game from the very beginning of the first half, made 13-3 run 20 minutes into the game. China looked nervous, only firing 16 shots and netting seven before the break.
"We were a little tense at the beginning but with the match going on, we got used to the pressure. European teams are not that invincible as we imagined. We gained great confidence from the match," said Chinese right wing Wang Xiaolong, who is the youngest play in the men's event.
Trailing 7-19 in the first half, a more confident Chinese team found their own rhythm at the interval and only conceding 12-14 in the second half.
The Chinese men's team has been a minnow in the handball world only to get their Olympic ticket as the host. It was the first time for them to compete in the Olympics.
"We competed against China last year in a friendly. They have made great progress in the past year," said French coach Claude Onesta, whose team have pocketed two easy wins at the Beijing Games.
"The following opponents will be stronger," said Onesta. "We are not in the best form now. I hope the players can improve their performance in the coming games. Our target is to enter the final."
As the fifth placer at Athens Games, France is determined to bring home a medal from Beijing. They showed their solid form by storming past Brazil 34-26 in their first game played on Sunday.
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2008)