Devastating news for Croatian handball before the World Championships in January.
The game between German clubs Melsungen and THW Kiel had only just begun on Tuesday evening in Germany. Domagoj Pavlović, a Croatia national team player for Melsungen, had the first attack for his team just 30 seconds into the game. He was defended by Croatia national team captain and Kiel star Domagoj Duvnjak, reports T.portal on November 28, 2018.
However, the collision of the Croatia teammates ended in catastrophe. Pavlović’s ankle bent the wrong way, and with a painful grimace stretched across his face, he dropped to the floor screaming. The fans in the stands gasped in shock, and Duvnjak, very aware of what had just occurred, grabbed his shirt to cover his face as he paced on the court in disbelief.
The situation only escalated as the medical team arrived at the court. The interruption lasted for about twenty minutes as Pavlović was treated and ultimately received an IV. He was taken from the gymnasium to the nearest hospital.
While the medical team led Pavlović off the court, Domagoj Duvnjak stood right by his side and comforted him.
The players on both teams were visibly shaken after the horrific injury, and while the fans watched on in disbelief, by the end of the match, they were screaming Pavlović’s name.
The first bit of news out of Germany is not great as reports claim Pavlović has fractured his ankle. It is allegedly an open fracture, and the Croatian player will undergo a demanding operation on Wednesday. Some prognoses say Pavlović could be out for a minimum of six months, while an injury of this severity could also put his career into question. Other reports say Pavlovć could return to the court at the end of the season, in March or April. We do know for sure that Croatia will not be able to count on him for the upcoming World Handball Championships in January. A shame, as Pavlović is crucial to Lino Červar’s lineup.
While the result of the match is not important, Kiel celebrated 31:19, though the shadow of the injury dimmed the victory.
“We’re shocked. Domagoj Pavlović’s injury overshadowed the match. Our dear Domba, we wish you a lot of strength. We’re all for Domba,” Melsungen wrote on their Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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