Handballers could strike Olympic gold

IRELAND’S handball stars are “well capable” of winning Olympic medals should the sport’s ambitions of gaining access to the four-yearly extravaganza be realised, according to association president Walter O’Connor.

The campaign to achieve that received a major boost last March when it was decided that One-Wall Handball would be an exhibition sport at the World Games in Cali, Colombia in 2013 and the game here has made significant strides in recent years. The recently re-branded GAA Handball association launched its strategic plan for the next five years at Croke Park on Monday and officials have reported a major growth in the numbers of players as well as a 20% bump in the amount of clubs.

“There are exciting times ahead,” said O’Connor who praised the GAA, president Christy Cooney and Director General Paraic Duffy for the support which has been forthcoming from Croke Park in recent times.