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Mariama Signate of France passes the ball during women's handball preliminary A against Angora at Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. France beat Angora 32-21. [Xinhua/Cai Yang]
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French women's handball team surged back in the second half to take their opening win, upseting Angola 32-21 in an injury-torn game at Beijing Olympic Games here on Saturday.
French right back Camille Ayglon got hit in the nose midway of the first half, when she jumped up to block Angola's shot. With blood coming out from her nose, Ayglon fell down on the floor and never get up until she was carried out in stretcher.
"She (Ayglon) was hit in the nose. We don't know the extent of the injury. She's at the clinic and we still don't know whether it is a fracture,"said Olivier Krumbholz, head coach of French side.
"After receiving basic first-aid, Ayglon was immediately taken to the clinic in the Olympic Village by ambulance," said Wu Hang, medical-care manager of the venue.
The game was featured with fast breaks and tough defences from the very begining, and referees had to interrupt the game at times for injured players. Bombo Calandula of Angola twisted her knee in the first minute of the game, never managing to return to the court again.
After a series of exchange of leads, France, 4th placer at Athens Games, trailed 13-14 by the interval. In 2007 World Championship, host France lost to Angola 27-29 in a preliminary game. But this time France prevent the repeat of history. They surged back in the second half and enjoyed a 15-3 run.
"During the first half the game was very stressed. We didn't play defence as well as we wanted to. But we were better in the second half,"said French right winger Maakan Tounkara, who converted four shots into four goals.
"The difference was not the defence, the physical condition made the difference. They were tired and we were better,"said Amandine Leynaud, whose impressive save only conceded three goals in the last twenty minutes.