First Olympic qualification within reach
DBB women end EM sensationally despite defeat
06/26/2023, 07:10 am
In the game for 5th place at the European Championship, Germany’s women’s basketball players are trailing behind from the tip-off. The defeat is logical, but hardly spoils the joy. Because: With place 6 in Europe, the DBB women are now very close to participating in the Olympic Games for the first time.
The German basketball players lost their last game at the European Championships, but still celebrated their best performance in 26 years with sixth place. In the duel for fifth place, the selection of national coach Lisa Thomaidis in Ljubljana had to admit defeat to the dethroned European champions from Serbia 62:78 (34:47). “We are ecstatic about reaching the Olympic qualifying tournament. For me, the EuroBasket was an outstanding experience,” said Thomaidis, “no wonder with this great team.”
The DBB team had already secured their ticket for an Olympic qualifying tournament on Saturday with a dramatic 71:69 after extra time against the Czech Republic. The outstanding Leonie Fiebich was rested in the last friendly game, the 23-year-old started the tournament slightly injured.
Most recently, the DBB women had done better at the European Championships in 1997 when they won the bronze medal in Hungary, and the first qualification since 2011 was a great success. The small hope for precious metal was burst on Thursday in the clear quarter-final defeat against the overwhelming Spaniards.
Belgium wins European title for the first time
The four-time title winner, however, missed the chance of the next gold medal. In the final, Spain lost 58:64 (32:25) to Belgium around top scorer Emma Meesseman (24 points) despite being in the lead at half time and after a weak final quarter. It is the first European Championship triumph for the Belgians. Bronze went to France, who beat Hungary 82:68 (49:30).
For the German women, one of the four qualifying tournaments in February is about participating in the Olympics for the first time. Three nations in each four-man tournament receive a ticket for Paris, the chances for the DBB team are not bad – a single victory could be enough if things go well.
The German team was trailing behind against Serbia, who took part in the Tokyo Olympics and lost 53:93 to Belgium in the quarter-finals. The best thrower was Luisa Geiselsöder with 14 points. “We have developed over three years and have become better and more modern. We will keep at it and hopefully inspire a lot of girls with our sport,” says Geiselsöder.