THW Kiel Worried About Duvnjak Ahead of Bundesliga Restart

Just days after the Handball World Championship, the Bundesliga title race resumes, and THW Kiel faces concerns over captain Domagoj Duvnjak. The Croatian playmaker, who celebrated his silver medal in Zagreb, suffered a calf injury during the tournament and is expected to miss several weeks, according to THW Kiel’s managing director Viktor Szilágyi.

A major setback for Kiel, who face SC Magdeburg in a crucial clash on Saturday. The tight title race also includes MT Melsungen, Füchse Berlin, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, and SG Flensburg-Handewitt.

“Duvnjak is a true leader and a key figure for us,” Szilágyi said. “Losing him is a big blow, but the team must come together.”

Other teams also face challenges after the intense tournament. Flensburg’s squad includes seven Danish world champions, while Füchse Berlin’s Mathias Gidsel played a key role in the final.

Managing player fatigue is now crucial, with Szilágyi calling the situation “a lottery” due to physical and mental exhaustion. HBL CEO Frank Bohmann emphasized the importance of squad management to handle the workload and keep players in top form.