Monday, October 30th, 2023.- The Monday session in male's handball at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago concluded with Chile's emphatic victory over the Dominican Republic, with a commanding score of 30-21 in Group A.

The local team, coming off a silver medal win in Lima 2019, gained a significant advantage at the Gimnasio Polideportivo de Viña del Mar. After a closely contested first half that ended with a narrow score of 12-10, the Chilean team took full control of the match in the second half.

However, the result left Chilean Erwin Feutchamn somewhat dissatisfied, and he was self-critical. He stated, "It was an exciting game. The result showed that we could have been more precise and won by a larger margin. This team has earned its status through hard work in the Americas, so we should have taken more advantage. But the important thing is that we won."

He added, "We were nervous and made mistakes we don't normally make. Later, we calmed down and played more technically. The first few minutes should serve as a wake-up call because against Brazil, they'll punish us. We can't have these downturns."

In this regard, Feutchamn has a clear idea. "The key in these Pan American Games is to have the hunger to win and to earn a medal. That will be a decisive factor in the tournament. Today we did well, but we could have been better. That's the key. It's not just about winning; we also have to dominate," he confessed.

"We have hunger and accumulated frustration. We lost in the previous Pan American Games final against Argentina. We are at home, and the moment will come when the beast is unleashed, so watch out for our opponents because we're going for the gold," he concluded defiantly.

In the other match in Group A, the Brazilian team dominated Mexico with a lopsided score of 51-19, putting them alongside Chile in the top positions as they aim to advance in the quest for a medal at Santiago 2023.

Patricio Echagüe y Gonzalo Pérez, translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo by Miguel Campos / Santiago 2023 via Photosport