How Yuri Knorr became a DHB prospect – gave up football

Handball World Championship

“Que sera, sera” performed within the background on the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland. Juri Knorr struggled to search out the best phrases on Monday after his first defeat on the handball world championships.

“It’s very disappointing for all of us. Also how the sport went. It’s annoying and I do not agree with a few conditions,” the 22-yr-outdated single prime performer mentioned on ARD. But then Knorr seemed forward. “I’m certain we’ll come out with a totally different face on Wednesday.”

Then it is Germany towards France (8:30 p.m., ZDF). In the quarter finals. This is the primary knockout sport. If Knorr and his staff win, Germany will advance to the semi-finals. Otherwise it is throughout and there should still be fifth place.

Knorr and his colleagues do not wish to give it some thought. The 22-yr-outdated is among the massive hopes for the DHB staff. At the World Cup, he’s one of the best German shooter (29 objectives) and finest passer (31) – solely 4 gamers in the whole match have higher statistics.

At 20, Knorr is the oldest artist on document. Not stunning in any respect. As early as 2021, former DHB coach Heiner Brand had a lot of religion within the then 20-yr-outdated Knorr. Ahead of the World Cup, Brand informed Watson on the time: “It’s a massive alternative. Also, I feel 20-yr-outdated Yuri Knorr can be within the again court docket.”

The man tagging Knorr within the World Cup

In the tip, Knorr was utilized in 4 video games, scoring 5 objectives and helping two. It has already exceeded these indicators. In the principle spherical sport towards Holland, Luke Staines was even despatched to destroy Knorr as a particular guard in man-marking – unsuccessfully.

Knorr would obtain many accolades for his accomplishments. From his comrades within the nationwide staff. Circle participant Yannick Kolbacher, who performs alongside Knorr for Rhein-Neckar Löwen, explains: “You might inform proper from the beginning that he had some actually nice moments. He has the potential to be a nice participant.”

But Knorr reveals expertise not solely in handball. The proper-hander additionally performed football efficiently for a very long time. As a teenager, he performed for Hamburger SV and performed with present professionals Joscha Wagnomann (VfB Stuttgart) and Jann-Fite Arp (Kiel).

In an interview with the ARD channel, the backfield participant defined why he determined to play handball as a substitute of football on the age of 15: “I felt higher and higher about handball. I felt like I used to be on a college journey with my buddies. There’s extra strain in football if you’re younger.”

Looking at it, it turned out that this choice was appropriate. Because on the age of 18, he dared to maneuver to Barcelona in the summertime of 2018, initially enjoying within the second staff – a few months later, in December, he made his debut within the skilled staff.

An extended-time period future in Rhine-Neckar Leuven

A yr later, Knorr dared to enter the Bundesliga. Went to Minden, satisfied and signed a contract with Rhein-Neckar Leuven from the summer season of 2021. There he performs with Uwe Gensheimer, amongst others. Just final December, shortly earlier than the beginning of the World Cup, he prolonged it till 2026.

His motive: “I’m proud of the present state of affairs on the Lions and I’m wanting ahead to the following few years right here. I feel now we have a robust staff with which we are able to enhance ourselves once more. lengthy-time period”. Knorr and the Lions are presently third within the Bundesliga behind Foxes Berlin and THW Kiel. It goes with out saying that he’s additionally forward in Bundesliga statistics. With 117 pictures, he’s the third-finest pitcher, together with 66 assists (fourth).

Uwe Genheimer (left) and Juri Knorr play collectively for Rhein-Neckar Leuven.Image: imago

However, Knorr has confronted headwinds in his younger profession. Last yr, when the European Championships had been held underneath strict corona guidelines, Knorr was unable to journey to Slovakia on account of his vaccination standing. Former DHB coach Heiner Brand informed Watson on the time: “Obviously it is a disgrace for him and the staff. It can be a nice alternative for him to play a massive position in a modified staff.”

Brand couldn’t perceive Knorr’s choice on the time: “I believed a younger participant would do something to benefit from that chance.” Commenting on the general public criticism, Knorr took his stand on the time: “I wish to make it clear: I’m not a denier of the crown. It affected me greater than folks my age. That’s why I take this illness significantly. I used to be one of many first contaminated in skilled handball, it is my didn’t scale back my fears – particularly concerning potential problems in a while.”

Knorr contracted the virus in November 2020, developed extreme signs and needed to take a few weeks off.

This matter not performed a position within the present World Cup, so Knorr confirmed his abilities in Poland and acquired many plaudits. Among different issues, Patrick Grotzky, who performs alongside Knorr within the DHB staff and the Lions.

Grotzky appreciates Knorr’s work: “He performs very nicely, has excessive confidence and high quality. We know what it is made from. Now he is at a degree the place he can do that each sport.” Also towards France?

Bob Hanning was Vice President of the DHB from 2013 to 2021.Photo: dpa / Andreas Hora

Although the DHB staff can be eradicated within the quarter-finals, former DHB vice-president Bob Hanning is optimistic. In the present column of the newspaper “Sport Bild”, the 54-yr-outdated writes: “We should not neglect that prime performers like Knorr, Golla or Lucas Mertens are nonetheless removed from the tip of improvement.”

Especially since there’s a actually vital occasion for DHB within the close to future: the 2024 European Championship in its residence nation.

Schalke 04 has been in a downward spiral for nearly three years now. Although Knapp have been promoted again to the Bundesliga this season, they’re presently on the backside of the desk. Thomas Reisz’s aspect had been embarrassed towards RB Leipzig on Tuesday.