Dolenec to replace seriously injured Cehte in Slovenian squad

Posted on 23. January 2025.

After Nejc Cehte’s serious injury, the Slovenian national team, currently competing in the World Championship in Zagreb, was joined by Jure Dolenec.

Slovenian handball players achieved their first victory in the second phase of the World Championship on Wednesday. They defeated Argentina 34:23 and, with their third set of points in the fourth match, remain in the hunt for a quarterfinal ticket.

However, the third victory came at a high cost. In the eighth minute, key player and starting right back Cehte suffered a severe injury after a dangerous collision with an opponent and collapsed on the court. Further examinations late in the evening at the Zagreb Clinical Center revealed that he had fractured three ribs, and he will remain under hospital care for a few more days.

Ahead of the decisive matches for playoff qualification – on Friday at 6 p.m. against Egypt and on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. against Croatia – the Slovenian team in Zagreb has been reinforced by former captain Dolenec. The experienced 36-year-old from Gorenjska, who became the all-time top scorer in Slovenian national team history at the Summer Olympics, responded immediately to his country’s call and will do his best to help in the coming days.