Handball still fighting fit, says performance director

BRITISH handball performance director Lorraine Brown insists London 2012 is still on the horizon for both the men's and women's international teams - despite their meagre budgets.

Handball was handed a £1.448m budget ahead of 2012 - 51.6 per cent down on the Beijing coffers, leaving participation at the London Games in doubt.

But a number of GB internationals - including Ciaran Williams and Chris Mohr - have relocated to the continent and have excelled in Germany's Bundesliga - Europe's premier handball league.

And as the men's and women's squad head to training camps in Germany and Spain respectively, Brown believes London 2012 is still a realistic ambition.

"We remain determined to give the players every opportunity to improve their game," said Brown.

"Despite the funding cuts we still very much believe we will be able to reach our aim of being competitive by the London Olympics in 2012.

"And we hope to build on our strong foundations to ensure handball continues to grow in Great Britain - both at an international level and the grassroots."

Following their training camp in Vigo, the women's squad will head to La Coruna for a Three Nation Tournament against teams from the Basque region while the men's side head to further training camps in Italy and Serbia.