As part of the European Handball Federation’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, a special event took place on Monday, where legendary players were acknowledged and inducted to the first-ever Hall of Fame for European handball.
Among the first 60 players who have entered the Hall of Fame are three Croatian players.
The induction ceremony was held in Vienna during the EHF Excellence Awards and the Hall of Fame paid tribute to 60 exceptional players, including three Croatians.
Goalkeeper Jelena Bumbak (nee Grubišić), centre back Ivano Balić, and right wing Irfan Smailagić were the Croatians honoured.
The players were honoured for their remarkable on-court performances, their contributions to European handball, and their overall impact on the sport over the past three decades.
Also among the distinguished list of inductees were the likes of Andrei Xepkin, a seven-time EHF Champions League winner, Thierry Omeyer, an Olympic, World, and European champion goalkeeper from France, Bojana Popovic, a six-time EHF Champions League winner, and Gro Hammerseng-Edin, a three-time European champion.
