Their opponents don’t necessarily see things the same way, but Marketa Slukova doesn’t think she and Barbora Hermannova are among the favourites to win medals at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 33-year-old Czech defender, who’s headed to her third Olympics, believes that the fact her team have not been able to perform at the highest level regularly since the return of international competition, earlier this year, has set them back when compared to some of the top teams in the world.
But, as she says, it’s the Olympics and anything can happen.
“This last year was completely different to what I expected in some ways,” she said. “Some teams have been more consistent than us in the past few months and I don’t think we’re going to Tokyo as one of the favourites. But the Olympics are unpredictable, anything can happen, and that’s the beauty of it. Everything is possible.”
Everything is indeed be possible. But the Czechs were drawn in arguably one of the toughest pools in the event, Pool F, alongside Japan’s Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami, Switzerland’s Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli and Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Margareta Kozuch.
Securing a top-two spot to advance directly to the Round of 16 in Tokyo will be a real challenge for all the teams in the pool.
“There will be no easy draws or easy opponents for us,” Slukova said. “All we need to do is go out there and show our best volleyball. The Japanese are very crafty and they will play at home, in conditions they know well, and that’s a great advantage. I see Nina and Tanja as the favourites in the pool considering their last performances, but Laura and Maggie have proved they can win big tournaments. Laura is an Olympic champion and she knows how to get the job done.”
The Czechs didn’t make the trip to Gstaad to compete at this week’s FIVB World Tour 4-star event as Hermannova heals a minor injury in preparation for Tokyo, but, following from afar, can imagine how teams are approaching the tournament in the Swiss Alps, the final 4-star event before the start of the Olympics.
“It’s different to play an event after the pools for the Olympics have been determined,” said Slukova. “And I think every team has it differently. Some teams will want to test their weapons before the Olympics start while others will prefer to use the event as preparation. But I’m sure every camera will be up and recording everything this week.”
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FIVB – Volleyball World
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