2024-07-30 06:14:42
And the ego is now severely damaged.
The Olympics, which were already in full swing in Paris, also brought very painful results – even two hopes of winning medals were dashed on Sunday – very unexpectedly, double rowers Donata Karalienė and Dovilė Rimkutė were eliminated, and later – also Rūta Meilutytė, who did not make it to the semi-finals in her main event.
However, in Lithuania, the Olympic emotions compete with the disappointment of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team, which has not qualified for the Games for the second time in a row.
Even before the start of the Paris Games, the wound was greatly opened by the information published by publicist Andrias Tapinas about the “party” of some basketball players that took place in Puerto Rico during the Olympic selection, soon the most important names in the country’s basketball began to point the finger at systemic problems, at the tip of which was the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) with with its president Vydus Gedvilas at the forefront.
In the background of all this anger, the desire to speak and the requests of real basketball experts, the Lithuanian trio basketball team found themselves in the background.
Although they play different basketball, according to different rules and system, the hopes of Lithuanian basketball fell on their shoulders.
Lithuanian national team captain Aurelijus Pukelis emphasized on Monday: “We will not save them. Everything is clear. We look at ourselves, we have our own goals. I don’t think we can save great basketball.”
Dainius Novickas, the coach of the Trijulia national team, emphasized that he never wanted to compete with 5-on-5 basketball.
“We understand what a second religion is,” the strategist said, but conceded. – Maybe there is a bigger decision from basketball people, but we focus on our work.”
The reality is that the national team of Lithuanian trios will defend the honor of all Lithuanian basketball. The basketball players themselves contributed to this fact, because they spoke openly about the medals. Such statements have also become an unexpected gust of wind, because Lithuanians have not been inclined to openly talk about such goals during the Games for some time.
“It is normal to feel pressure, because we did not come to participate, but to perform well. I want to bring my dream medal to Lithuania. The teams are known, the players are known. It remains for us to play and hope for the best result,” said the 30-year-old 205 cm national team captain.
Together with his teammates – Gintautas Matulis, Evaldus Dziaugiis, Šarūnas Vingelis – he also participated in the historic opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, during which it rained heavily the entire time.
“The rain washed away well, but it didn’t spoil the mood. An extraordinary day, an extraordinary event for us”, said A. Pukelis.
The trio team has been in the Olympic village since Thursday. Everyone got used to the living conditions, and a routine managed to emerge. Both D. Novickas and A. Pukelis said that everyone is looking forward to the start of the tournament.
“Everyone is fine. We had practice, we tried out the main court. Everything is fine, all that remains is for us to play well,” he said.
The team also got used to the exclusive life of the Olympic village. Here they also tested the cardboard beds that were presented during the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were held not in 2020, but in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Maybe we are simple people, we don’t demand anything special. We are not hungry, we are always fed and slept. At first it was hard on those cardboard beds, but you get used to everything. The feet may be on the outside, but if there was a need, they would have given a bigger bed”, A. Pukelis smiled.
The team also had time to try out the impressive basketball court, which is located in the historic Concord Square of Paris. None of these players have ever faced what they saw and felt.
“I have never played in an arena like the one here. Just how many people watched the training. Hit the shots and the arena is already reacting. That atmosphere was different”, emphasized A. Pukelis.
Lithuanian national team on Tuesday at 7 p.m. 35 minutes (Lithuanian times, – ed.) will compete with the Olympic champion Latvian national team. Basketball trio players live in the same house with Latvians. True, only on the next floor.
“If we pass by, we meet – we say hello. We don’t play games together”, A. Pukelis smiled.
D. Novickas also revealed that both national teams emphasize to other athletes that it is their team that will defeat the other.
It will soon become clear who was right.
“Every game will be live or die.” We cannot look at whether Latvians are champions or not. Saving is not possible. We are ready for everything”, emphasized A. Pukelis.
Lithuanian basketball players can also be inspired by Monday evening – they shouted loudly when Danas Rapšys made it to the final of the 200 m freestyle, which will be held at 9 p.m. 40 minutes
System. The Lithuanian triathlon team will play 7 matches from July 30 to August 4. All opponents will be played once. The top two teams will advance to the semi-finals. 3rd-6th places – to the additional quarter-final stage. The teams that took 7th and 8th places are eliminated and end the tournament. The medal fights will take place on August 4-5.
2024-07-30 06:14:42