The Head of the Handball Federation of Russia Sergey Shishkarev shared emotions about the day of the decade celebration of the victory of the women’s national team of Russia at the Olympic Games in Brazil.
— Exactly ten years ago we witnessed a truly historic event. The women’s national team of Russia won gold Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro for the first time. Undoubtedly, we do not devalue victories of the Soviet national team in the Olympics in 1976 and 1980 under the guidance of a legendary coach Igor Turchin, but it is the most significant achievement in the women’s handball in Russian history.
On the one hand, it seems like an eternity has passed since that success, on the other hand, it feels like it was yesterday. I rewatched key moments of the dramatic semifinal with Norway and incomparable final with France a thousand times, but sometimes a desire to see these games again arises and indescribable and incomparable emotions come alive immediately.
We have already spoken a lot in various interviews about the components of that incredible victory, that is why it was important for me to gather all Olympic Cinderellas ten years later. And not just in a restaurant or in nature but on a sports ground in sports uniform and in front of supporters.
And I am thrilled that this idea was successfully put into practice, especially since the opponent was worthy — a team of silver medalists of the Olympic Games in Tokyo strengthened by several players of the national team. A gala match, held on March 7, became a real holiday of handball, a huge amount of legendary athletes came to the court while great Yvgeny Trefilov stood tall on the coaching bench.
But still, while paying tribute to past achievements, we understand that we have to look forward, prepare a new generation of players and focus them on victories, one of which happened ten years ago. The Olympic champions passed a symbolic golden ball to the current national team before the gala match, and I am sure that Russian handball will go beyond gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo. New victories, new achievements and new heroes are ahead of our national team, — the HFR press service quotes Sergey Shishkarev.
Photo: vk.com/rh
