The Slovenian handball players passed their final test at the Malmö tournament with flying colours. They won against Iran with 33:17, and thus secured their third participation at the Olympic Games.

At the beginning of the match some nervousness was present, and the Iranians were able to keep up, which resulted in a 6:6 tie in the 14th minute. But in the second half of the first half-time the relentless Slovenian defence stopped most of the attempts, and kept filling up the Iranian goal through counter-attacks. The partial score of 11:1 brought the advantage of ten goals, and the first halftime ended with the Slovenia in the lead with 17:8.

In the second half-time the selector Veselin Vujović gave the opportunity to all the players, and the result was kept safely in Slovenian hands until the end. Vujović had decided to give the opportunity to Urban Lesjak and Miha Zarabec, while Uroš Zorman and Gorazd Škof were given some deserved rest.

Third time at the greatest tournament
Thus the Slovenian handball players secured their third participation at the Olympic Games. The first time they managed it in Sydney 2000, and then four years later in Athens.

Vujović: Many people had doubts
"Naturally I am satisfied, mostly because of the players, and the people who entrusted me with the role of selector. I am also satisfied with the first place at the tournament, and for securing our place at the Olympic Games. Many people had doubts about us, but we believed in ourselves. But it is only the first step, there is a lot of work ahead of us in order to get to Rio in the best shape. In an interview before Malmö I said that I quite enjoyed being written off. That gives me the opportunity to return victorious on a white horse. And that's how it happened. I am pleased that we showed our good side in such fierce competition," Vujović expressed his enthusiasm.