ODDS and EVENS | Deaflympics: Good Sportsmanship and Skilled Scorers in the Handball Tourney

Good sportsmanship probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you recall thematic highlights of a runaway victory. Yet in the aftermath of Germany's 32-10 rout of Japan in a men's handball match at the Tokyo Deaflympics, that's exactly what came to mind.

From start to finish, players from both teams along with supporters of both teams maintained a friendly atmosphere on Wednesday night, November 19. They enriched the competition with positive energy at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Indoor Stadium.

Neither macho posturing nor gloating was a visible component of Germany's outstanding performance.

The match began with two quick goals by Germany, one by Dominik Goetz, followed by another by Lukas Kaut, before even a minute of the 60-minute competition had elapsed. It was a snapshot of the full contest.

Relentless on offense with rapid-fire passes and an explosive finishing touch, Germany's goals continued to pile up in a hurry.

Germany took a 16-3 lead into halftime.

That didn't stop a large swathe of Japanese fans from chanting "de-fense, de-fense" despite the scoreboard showing a double-digit deficit for the Deaflympics host nation in the second half. Nor did it dissuade a significant portion of Team Japan boosters from demonstrating their support with repeated hand signs, including clapping, raising their palms and shaking both hands quickly in a twisting motion.

*Enthusiastic fans, seen on November 16 at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Indoor Stadium, enlivened the atmosphere of the men's handball tournament at the Tokyo Deaflympics. (KYODO)*

Coordinated Movement on the Handball Court

Handball isn't choreographed like an elaborate dance during a professional ballet performance. But the movement of the six outcourt players, especially on offense, can exhibit the underpinning of a strategic plan. For example, the positioning of players as the ball zips around on the perimeter.

Creating space for well-executed runs and good angles for throwing the ball past the opposing goalkeeper requires timing and court awareness.

Again and again, Germany shared this aspect of its dynamic skill set in its 32-goal effort against Japan.

Only a quick glance at the scoresheet was needed to be reminded of how impactful Germany's top goalscorers were on this night. Joshua Hild led all players with eight goals. Till Mallach finished with seven, three days after he scored 10 in a 39-15 decision over Brazil. Florian Jesse added five goals against Japan.

Before I attended Wednesday's Japan-Germany match, I glanced at the official Tokyo Deaflympics Spectator Guide.

It included specific guidelines for each of the 21 sports that are being held at this global extravaganza during the 100th anniversary of the Deaflympics.

For handball, the helpful summary included the following: "Communication primarily uses eye contact, sign language and gestures to coordinate movements. Players communicate in a world of silence, where their unity and intense concentration truly stand out."

Clapping along with other upbeat hand signals and vocal outbursts of approval confirmed that Germany's fans were enjoying themselves watching the ball fly into the net again and again.

Watching the nonstop action from the upper reaches of the gymnasium, my general conclusion was that there was a harmonious blend of a traditional sport and the mixed communication of voices and hand signals.

In short, it was fun to see.

Japan's 1st Gold Medalist at the Tokyo Deaflympics

Veteran runner Maki Yamada captured Japan's first gold medal of the Tokyo Deaflympics, placing first in the men's 400-meter final on Wednesday.

Yamada completed the race in 47.61 seconds at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sport Ground Athletic Field.

The veteran runner was thrilled with his performance, as he set a personal-best time in the race.

"My efforts have paid off," Yamada was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I ran like I never have before."

In his review of the race, Yamada stated that the closing stretch was the most crucial, noting that Poland's Oskar Golebiowski was in fast pursuit of him, the leader.

What secured the victory?

"[I put] 150% of my power into those last 50 to 60 meters," Yamada said, according to Kyodo News.

It's always nice to find out or watch a veteran athlete experience success again in the biggest competitions many years after previous feats.

For the 28-year-old Yamada, his gold medal on Wednesday marked his first Deaflympics title since the 2017 edition of the quadrennial in Samsun, Turkey. He took home gold in the men's 200 meters and the 4x100 relay, while also collecting a silver in the 400.

Yamada is seeking to double his gold-medal haul on Friday in Tokyo, stepping onto the track in the 200-meter competition.