Olympics-Handball-Denmark brush aside Japan as European teams make strong starts

[ASFN Admin]

World handball champions Denmark started their bid to capture back-to-back Olympic gold medals by thrashing hosts Japan 47-30 in their opener at the Yoyogi National Stadium on Saturday. Denmark rode on three-times World Player of the Year Mikkel Hansen's five goals to end the first half with a 25-14 lead as Japan, who are competing in men's handball at the Games for the first time since Seoul 1988, struggled to get into the contest. The Danes sent a warning to their rivals by increasing the pressure in the second half to complete a comprehensive win, as Jacob Holm finished with nine goals and Magnus Saugstrup with eight.

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