Portugal was crowned world and European champion in wheelchair handball today, in Leiria, by beating the Netherlands, by 18-10, in the final of the first edition of the event, which awarded the double title.

The Portuguese team, playing at home, at Pavilhão dos Pousos, in Leiria, started the match well and after having reached the advantage of two goals (2-0), with a ‘double’ by Iderlindo Gomes, increased to four ( 8-4) after 15 minutes.

Portugal, with Pedro Marques ‘closing’ the goal and launching the attack, always stopped the opponents’ intentions to recover the difference and reach the break winning 9-7.

Portugal, led by coach Danilo Ferreira, entered the second half determined to extend the advantage and, with five minutes played, six goals at 13-7.

The defensive defense deserved top marks in the first 10 minutes of the second half, in which Portugal did not concede a goal, and in which it increased the advantage, through the ‘hot hand’ of Ricardo Queirós, considered the MVP of the game, to an insurmountable 15- 7.

With practically five minutes to play, Portugal remained firmly in the lead, not letting slip the victory, which ‘closed’ at 18-10, thus becoming world and European champion of wheelchair handball, in an event that had the first edition in Leiria.