Hundreds of residents of Ljubuški and people from other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina flocked to this town in Herzegovina to welcome the players who hail from the local handball club Izviđač.
The handballers were first hosted by Mayor Vedran Markotić, before being greeted by hundreds of fans at Marko Marulić Primary School, where some of them first started playing the sport.
Mayor Markotić said the town was proud of the players for contributing to the success of the Croatian national team. "This welcome shows how sport can unite people and lift the spirit of community," he added.
David Mandić, who played the tournament while nursing several injuries, expressed particular gratitude to his home club, Izviđač.
"Without Izviđač, we wouldn’t be on the big stage," he said, encouraging young players to train hard and invest in themselves. Mandić added that he expects the Croatian national team could compete for the gold medal at next year’s World Championship in Germany, praising the squad’s youth and unity.