Olympics Ballsports Preview

We already have previewed the Basketball, Football and Tennis tournaments, so here is a look at all the other ball games in the Olympics over the next fortnight (not counting that ball thing they use in Gymnastics sometimes).

Mens Hockey: Australia are the 6/4 (Coral) favourites to claim the Gold medal. The reigning World Champions have won the last four Champions Titles, the last four Commonwealth Games golds and have medalled at all five Olympic Games (including Gold in Athens in 2004). They are in a tough group with Spain (the 2008 Runners Up) and Great Britain (hosts and the fourth ranked side in the World). Australia are 4/7 (Coral) to land the group. Group B features the defending Olympic champions Germany and the Netherlands (the current second and third best ranked teams in the world). The Germans are 7/2 (general) while the Dutch are 11/2 (bet365/ladbrokes) to claim the trophy. It is Germany who will probably present the biggest challenge to the Australians with two recent victories over them in a recent test event in London.

Womens Hockey: The Netherlands are the World number one and rated 13/8 (Coral) to win Olympic Gold. Winners in Bejing the Dutch have secured more trophies than any other nation, winning eight of 15 previous staged World Cups, six Champions Trophies and eight of ten European Championships staged to date. Also in Group A, with the Netherlands, is Team GB who are ranked fourth in the world. Team GB should stand a chance, boosted by the fact that six of the last eight host nations have secured a medal and it is 1/2 (Bwin) that Team GB do so here. The second favourites to win the tournament are Argentina at 7/2 (general). The South Americans are ranked second in the world and have reached the final in each of the last six Champions Trophies (including winning four of them).

Mens Handball: France are the 15/8 (paddy Power/Bodog/Coral) favourites after winning the world title in 2011(which added to their Olympic title). The odds look very short on a side who won just one of their five matches in the European Championship this year. Denmark much more appeal at 7/2 (youwin) after winning the European Championships and finishing runners-up to the French in the Worlds. Team GB are a very distant 10,000/1 (bet365).

Womens Handballs: Defending World Champions Norway are the 7/4 (general) favourites followed by Russia at 15/4 (ladbrokes) and France at 5/1 (Totesport). Team GB are again a very distant 10,000/1 (bet365).

Mens Volleyball: Brazil are are the 21/10 (sportingbet/paddy Power) favourites as the number one ranked side in the World. They look opposable though having finished just sixth in the recent World League (an event won by the Poles 7/2-ladbrokes). The value is the US at 16/1 (general) they finished second in the World League and are the defending Olympic champions.

Womens Volleyball: The US are 6/4 (general) favourites after their recent World Grand Prix victory. Beaten finalists Brazil are second favourites at 23/10 (paddy Power).

Mens Beach Volleyball: In my research I googled the term ‘Mens Beach Volleyball,’ which I suspect is a somewhat less common search term than ‘Womens Beach Volleyball.’ Brazilians Alison (you want to tell him he has a Female name) Cerutti and Emaneul Rego are 3/1 (general) favourites, it looks like being between them and US duo Todd Rodgers & Phil Dalhausser (37/10-youwin).

Womens Beach Volleyball: Brazilian duo Larissa France and Juliana Felisberta are the 3/1 (BetVictor/ladbrokes) favourites, but it is the Chinese duo Xue Chen and Zhang XI who are the world number one pairing and they are 4/1 (You Win).

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27/07/2012     © Frixo 2026