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Cologne (dpa) - The cancellations of several German top performers for the handball world championship in Egypt also represent an opportunity for the national team from the perspective of DHB Vice President Bob Hanning.
"I'm going to reveal a secret now: I'm more pleased than angry about the personnel situation," said Hanning of "Welt am Sonntag".
Regardless of the coronavirus pandemic, he would have left some established players at home, added Hanning, explaining that with better chances of an Olympic medal.
“If we can compete with the best line-up in Tokyo this summer, we have a great chance of achieving this goal.
To do that, we need players who are a bit rested, ”said the association's vice-president.
Therefore, he is not angry at all if three Champions League winners from THW Kiel are not there.
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The cancellations by Hendrik Pekeler, Patrick Wiencek and Steffen Weinhold from Kiel because of the corona pandemic are viewed very critically by the German national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, and Finn Lemke from Melsungen is not there either.
"The fact that the four are not there really hurts," said German right-wing winger Timo Kastening of "Welt am Sonntag".
“If I listen to the motivation, I can absolutely understand the decisions.
I have absolutely no grudge, ”said Lemke's club colleague.
Hanning emphasized that the wave of cancellations did not make him incredibly sad because it was a huge opportunity for players like Johannes Golla, Marian Michalczik or Juri Knorr to take the next important international step.
Before the start of the World Cup on Friday against Uruguay, the German national team will play the European Championship qualifier against Austria on Sunday in Cologne (6.10 p.m. / ARD).
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210110-99-961044 / 2
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The German group in the European Championship qualification
Squad of German handball players
Game schedule of the German handball players
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Presidium of the German Handball Federation
Board of the German Handball Federation