Handball veterans discuss sport's future at Banja Luka tournament

Former Yugoslav handball players Vladimir Petrić and Ivan Lapčević participated in a veteran handball tournament in Banja Luka, organized by RK Mladost and BASK.

During the event, Petrić expressed concerns regarding the current state of handball in Serbia. While he welcomed the appointment of Raul Gonzalez to lead the national team and Partizan, he warned that such changes will be ineffective without addressing the decline in youth participation. He noted that handball faces significant competition from basketball and football, citing a lack of sports centers in smaller towns and a decrease in children's interest in the sport.

Lapčević, a former bronze medalist at the World Championships, shared personal reflections on his career and the political pressures he faced during his professional years. He recounted a specific instance where he was pressured to sign with Red Star Belgrade due to political circumstances, only for the contract to be terminated following changes in the Serbian government.