Roughing it out in handball

8220;It8217;s a hard game, a game for men,8221; said Polish player Bartosz Jurecki on Friday after a match against Korea during which he collided with jumping opponents and crashed to the ground.

8220;For handball, that8217;s normal. It8217;s not like volleyball or basketball, where everything is a foul. For us, that8217;s great. I love it,8221; he said with a broad grin.

Not that the women are any more gentle. In the women8217;s semi-finals on Thursday, Hungarian left wing Orsolya Verten limped off the pitch with a leg injury, while her team mate Gabriella Szucz wrapped herself around Russian top scorer Irina Bliznova8217;s neck.

Body contact is part of the game as the defenders try to block the other side8217;s attackers. Pouncing on another player from the side or the back is illegal, but a full frontal clash is considered a good way of defending the goal. Restraining and pushing an opponent is technically not allowed, but using the body to obstruct an opponent is 8212; creating an interesting grey zone that players fully exploit.

No wonder Norwegian Katja Nyberg was not planning a big night out to celebrate her team8217;s victory over South Korea in the semi-finals. 8220;I will lie on my back on my bed with ice all over my body,8221; she said when asked about her party plans.