Men’s Final: Brazil – Hungary 2:0 (14:7, 18:15)
They sang their traditional song and they jumped all over the court: The Brazilian men won their second Beach Handball WCH title after 2006, when they took the victory on home soil. In the 2010 final in Antalya history repeated, as 2009 the Brazilians had beaten Hungary at the World Games in Taipeh, the same opponent as in Turkey. For the Brazilians it was their third medal after winning Silver 2008 in Cadiz.
The southern Americans were the dominant team in Antalya, they lost only one match (against Russia in the Main Round), in the other nine matches they didn’t lose one period. They had the best tactics, the strongest defense and showed the best beach technique, as they were the best prepared team. But Hungary was a strong opponent in the final, but couldn’t break the Brazilian wall in the decisive stages of both periods.
Brazil missed the start of the match completely, and woke up as Hungary was in lead 7:3. But then the Brazilian engine started with full power. Thanks to a brilliant defense and goalkeeping performance they broke the Hungarian resistance – and scored an extra-ordinary series of 12:0 points to the final result 14:7.
As the Brazilian women’s team had gathered international support by China and Australia the crowd went in motion, as on the other hand the Hungarian spectators were supporting there team loudly, too. But this support was too weak in the beginning of the second period, as Hungary seemed to have lost their power. Brazil was dominant and led 10:4 and 14:8. Then the Hungarian catch-up race started, pushed by again strong Balasz Babic. It took only one minute to equalize at the score of 14:14 90 seconds before the end. But then the more experienced Brazilians stroke back, deciding the second period and the match with the goal to 17:15 18 seconds before the end. The WCH trophy was handed over by IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa – and the Brazilian celebration will continue at the closing pool party in the team hotel.
For the first time ever a men’s Beach Handball WCH final was whistled by two female referees, the Serbians Vanja Antic and Jelena Jakovljevic. At the World Games 2009 this tradition started, as the Polish couple Johanna Brehmer and Agnieska Skowronek refereed the final Brazil vs. Hungary, the same as in Antalya 2010. Those Polish had the control of the men’s bronze final.
The four referee couples for the finals and bronze finals came from three different continents (Europe, Asia and Pan America).
The next Beach World Championship will take place in Italy 2012.