The chairman of the HFR High Council Sergey Shishkarev answered several questions of the reporter on air of Match TV.
Shishkarev expressed confidence that the women’s national team would have fought for the first place at the Olympic Games-2024 in Paris. The head of the Handball Federation of Russia also announced that the decision about the future of the head coach of the men’s national team Velimir Petkovic will be made at the end of the national championship.
— The level of handball is such that if we broke into the international arena, I’m sure, our men’s team would have been in the top 10 at least. Concerning girls, we discuss with the specialists in the HFR the level we would have played at in the Olympics. I’m sure, we would have been among the medalists and bravely fought for the first place.
Petkovic’s future is not decided yet. The main thing he did during this time was preparation and improvement of the efficient number of young coaches, who will replace him with accumulated experience in case he decides to leave.
Of course, it’s necessary to give way to Russian coaches, but since such situation occurred and we can experiment and take bold steps, we will think about it. Upon the completion of the championship we will announce all the decisions, but we will exactly give opportunities to the young.
The colleagues from other countries call us, they don’t forget us. We are not always allowed in the format of official communication, but many European, African leaders, as well as from the Middle East, address me informally, ask advice or how to behave.
I feel that our authority in the international arena if didn’t increase, but certainly didn't decrease. We are regarded as a serious handball power, — Shishkarev said on air of the Vse na Match! program.
