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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Serbia's women go home with their first Olympic basketball medal after winning the bronze in a hard-fought 70-63 victory over France on Saturday, a conquest the coach likened to climbing Mount Everest without oxygen.
The team collapsed in hugs and tears after securing the bronze, having overcome a poor start to the Olympic tournament and a shockingly bad second quarter against number 4, France.
The European champions, ranked 14th in this tournament, felt immense pressure to win a medal for a country where basketball is big, but women's basketball has struggled.