After the match between the Croatian and Czech handball teams at the Arena, a ceremonial recognition took place to mark over three decades of handball excellence. The culmination of the event was the farewell to the national team captains Domagoj Duvnjak, Igor Karačić, and Ivan Pešić.
The Croatian Handball Federation paid tribute to all the medalists, with a total of 16 medals won by Croatian handball players at major competitions (Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships) – 15 of which were won by male players and one by female players.
The first medal won by Croatian handball players was a bronze at the European Championship in Portugal in 1994, and the recent World Championship silver from Oslo marked their 15th medal at major events. This impressive collection includes three gold medals, seven silver, and five bronze.
Croatian handball players have been Olympic champions twice (1996, 2004), and they also have a bronze from London (2012). At the World Championships, they won their only gold in Portugal (2003), four silver medals (1995, 2005, 2009, 2025), and a bronze in Spain (2013). Gold at the European Championships has remained an unfulfilled wish for all previous generations, but the collection includes three silver medals (2008, 2010, 2020) and three bronze (1994, 2012, 2016).
The Croatian women’s team won bronze at the European Championship in 2020.
The medals were awarded to seven coaches, 76 players, and 17 female players.
The medalists were introduced to the audience on the red carpet in the Arena in three groups, based on the years of their achievements: first, those from the period 1994-2004, followed by those from 2004-2014, and finally, the medalists from 2016-2025. The last to be presented were the silver medalists from this year, along with their coaching staff.
The Croatian Handball Federation prepared a beautiful plaque for all the medalists, listing all 16 medals won by Croatian handball players.
The final segment of the event was the farewell to three Croatian handball legends: longtime captain Domagoj Duvnjak, Igor Karačić, and Ivan Pešić. A special short video tribute was prepared for each of them, showcasing highlights from their illustrious careers, as they walked through a guard of honor formed by players with whom they had recently shared the national team locker room, accompanied by chosen songs.
Representatives of the veterans’ guard brigades presented special thank-you plaques to Duvnjak, Karačić, and Pešić, and the legendary captain was also presented with the Croatian flag that flew over the Knin Fortress during the last World Championship.
Source: Pogled.ba
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