2024-04-06 12:37:42
“Two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants and shorts. Oh yes, and don’t forget the uniform!” with the lightness and carelessness characteristic of himself and his team, 3×3 basketball player Hong Kong with confidence, not self-confidence /”>Kārlis Pauls Lasmanis lists the most important components of the contents of the suitcase before going to the Olympic qualification tournament in Hong Kong. This is just a cover for a very serious mood, because the Olympic champions will also have to sweat a lot to be among the participants of the Paris tournament. Although the Latvians have been given three chances to qualify, the team is aware that they should try to use the first of them.
Is the feeling before qualifying different from what it was three years ago when you got to Tokyo?
The main difference is in our own mood and readiness, because we already have experience. We’ve been through it all before. There is no excitement and uncertainty, which was not missing before the qualification of the previous games. At the moment, we already know clearly what awaits us and we know how to prepare for it.
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A fierce battle awaits us there, nothing else. Obviously, it won’t be easy against any team, but it won’t be easy against us either. As Nauris Miezis says – let’s gnaw the earth to win its victories. The main thing is not to burn yourself out and to evaluate each opponent. We know how much we want to participate in the Olympic Games again, but our competitors want it just as much.
Who will be the most serious competitors?
We know the Mongols best, who could be our fiercest opponents in the subgroup. The Egyptian and New Zealand teams are less well-known even in our circles, but they will be an opportunity to appreciate already there.
In the fight for the only ticket, the main competitors can be found in the second group?
Probably so, but first we have to win our group and only then we can see who we will have to play next in the decisive battles. Of course, those teams – Austria, Netherlands – are well known to us. Strong opponents.
How was the preparation different when you were in a bigger circle?
It was just a matter of adjusting to the game with the young guys who hadn’t played with that much before. In the beginning it was more difficult… Not even more difficult – just different. Each of us is different, each has its own style of play, but they are still professional athletes. Physically, they are very well prepared, very good, strong bodies, they know how to play bass and, most importantly, they are cool guys off the field as well. So far we have super team chemistry.
You don’t see Franci Lāci and Sigmar Raimo as foreign bodies in the quartet of Olympic champions?
Definitely no. We ourselves also do everything to integrate them into the team as best as possible. Also, I think it was useful for us to play more alone, with other partners, in recent years. The coach made it purposefully, he knows what he is doing.
How important is it to take the first of three chances to qualify for Paris?
You have to push yourself to get it done right away. We can’t count on having another chance or two there if we don’t take this one. You have to go to the maximum in every game, because with every missed opportunity, the tension will increase and it will only be more difficult.
2024-04-06 12:37:42