A team of south west London korfball players were runners-up after represented London senior squad at Sunday’s national inter-area korfball championships in Bristol.
London faced the British students team in the final, but the student side, who are preparing for the University World Cup, ran out 8-5 winners.
Coach Swaraj Thancanamootoopicked a squad of twelve players including players from six different London sides – Croydon-based Trojans, Tooting-based Bec, Blackfriars-based Supernova, Mitcham, Croydon and Epsom-based Nomads.
“We had a good run in the group stage playing some excellent korfball at times – not bad given that the team had to get used to playing with each other,” said Thancanamootoo.
“In the final, we were unlucky that our shots didn’t drop and get us the goals as we played really well. The GB students had their day but I’m proud of second place.”
The championships pitched the best non-international players from each area against each other.
London began the group stage with an 8-1 victory over West Midlands followed by an 8-5 win over South West and 11-4 victory over South Midlands.
The final two group games were closer as London pipped Kent 8-7 before drawing their final group game with Wales 6-6.
Korfball is a mixed team sport with four male and female players on each team and combines both basketball and netball.
It was invented in 1902 by a Dutch schoolteacher who wanted a game his co-educational pupils could play together.
