Austria's women's basketball team is fighting for EM quarter-finals!

Austria's women's basketball team is fighting for EM quarter-finals!

Heumarkt, 1010 Wien, Österreich - in Vienna takes place from Thursday to Sunday there is an important 3 × 3 basketball Masters event of the World Tour, which is described as the largest basketball event in Austria. Several international tournaments in recent years have consolidated the tradition of the 3 × 3 basketball in the country. In this context, the security precautions A priori have to be increased, especially after a killing spree in Graz. ÖBV boss Helmut Niederhofer emphasizes the importance of a safe implementation of the event.

The domestic team, Vienna, is currently forming the world ranking fifth and is trained by Matthias Linortner. Linortner is optimistic about the chances of winning and hopes for an impressive performance of his players. Despite his injury to the European Championships 2024, he keeps his fingers crossed for the team. They are supported by two European champions, Nico Kaltenbrunner and Fabio Söhler, as well as playmaker Quincy Diggs, who returns to his team.

Austria's women in focus

Another highlight of the event is the participation of the Austrian women's basketball team, which has successfully qualified for the European Championship. The players include Alexia Allesch, Anja Fuchs-Robtin, Rebekka Kalaydjiev and Simone Sill. Fuchs-Robtin emphasizes how important platforms are for women's basketball to obtain more visibility and support. The team has set the sporting goal of moving into the quarter -finals and plans to play in front of up to 3,000 fans.

In their previous EM participation, the Austrian women have already won their opening game against Azerbaijan with 21: 7 and thus qualified prematurely for the quarter-finals. Even if you lost 14:20 in a later game against Spain, the Olympics, this shows the exciting and combative nature of the 3 × 3 basketball, where everything is possible. Kalaydjiev emphasized in an interview that the French opponent is a challenge, which they want to accept.

Financial incentives and support

A not inconsiderable aspect of the event are the prize money that is endowed with $ 40,000 in men and for women with $ 14,000 (approx. 35,000 euros or 12,250 euros). This illustrates the economic importance and increasing professionalization in women's and men's basketball. In order to be able to successfully carry out the event, however, large sponsors and sports policy support are necessary.