Australia’s first ever offshore Olympic handball team are ready to try and defy the odds when they line up for their first round clash against the traditionally strong Danish side.

After recently returning from the world junior championships in Korea, the girls have used the first few days to acclimatise to Singapore’s extremely humid climate.  

The competition features six teams, with Australia being pooled alongside Denmark and Kazakhstan. The top two teams from each group advance through to the semi-finals.

With the first few training sessions out of the way, the Aussies are edging closer to opening their 2010 Youth Olympic campaign.

“The Danes are the best team in the world,” said pivot Claire Dennerley.

“It is where handball originated so you’d expect they’re going to be good.”

While knowing the task ahead is difficult, Dennerley is confident the Aussies have a couple of stars that could shake up the competition.

“As we’re still developing handball in Australia it is going to be tough but we have a few really experienced players Victoria Fletcher and Monica Najdovski so we’re hoping to use them as our weapons against the Danish girls.”

While the hot and humid conditions have brought down many Singapore 2010 athletes so far, the Aussies are confident their recent trip to the world championships in Korea will have helped acclimatise to the difficult conditions.

 “The climate is not so bad for a few of us because we have just been to the Korea, so that really helped. We should be good to go for our games.”

The Aussies take on the Danish on August 20 before backing up against Kazakhstan on August 21, a match that will likely determine who joins the Danes in the semi-finals.

Matt Bartolo
AOC