CHANDLER’S Ford goalball stars Adam and David Knott are still “on a high” after helping Team GB to victory at the European Goalball Championship in Malmo, Sweden.

Aiming to get to the semi-finals to secure promotion to Europe’s B League, Team GB went one better than that, making it to the final with a 5-3 win over Portugal and then defeating Russia 6-5 in a nail-biting final.

Team GB had earlier dominated their group games, including clocking up an 11-2 win over Croatia, and both Knott brothers – who were both born with oculocutaneous albinism, which means they have only ten per cent of the vision of a normally sighted person – netted 17 goals each throughout the tournament.

Adam Knott, who is currently studying music at Southampton University, said: “We went to Malmo hoping for promotion, so when we knocked out Portugal we were absolutely delighted.

“To beat Russia in the final, and right at the last minute in sudden death, was above and beyond what we expected.

“It’s an amazing thing to be part of and we are all still on a high from it.”

Adam’s 17-year-old brother David, a student at Winchester College, added: “The atmosphere in the hall for the final was incredible.

“I could hear the spectators celebrating that final goal, so those final seconds waiting for the referee to confirm it seemed to last forever.”

Goalball was originally developed to rehabilitate of soldiers injured during the Second World War and has been enjoying a surge in support and participation, especially after its popularity at London 2012.

Played on a court with raised markings on the floor, blindfolds are used to ensure an even playing field as players locate the ball through sound.