Paris (AFP)

The center-half of the French team Nikola Karabatic, recovered from a serious injury to his right knee, returns to the selection for Olympic preparation, within a list of 21 players, announced the French Handball Federation , Monday.

Nikola Karabatic made his comeback in competition on May 30 with Paris SG, after 225 days away from the pitch following a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in mid-October during a championship match. France.

He was able to play several meetings with PSG, including the Final 4 of the Champions League in Cologne (Germany) on Saturday and Sunday, failing a fifth time at this stage of the competition in the quest for a first coronation in C1 with the capital club.

"Seeing Nikola on the pitch again and continuing the path to his best level is real good news for him and for us," said coach Guillaume Gille, who has integrated the eldest of the Karabatic brothers into the group of 21 players. retained to carry out the Olympic preparation from June 23 to July 6 in Créteil, at the Maison du handball.

Guillaume Gille will announce on July 5 the final list of players who will travel to Japan for the Olympic Games: 14 players plus one player who will join the Olympic Village, and two players (including a goalkeeper) who will travel to Japan, but who will remain outside the village.

Olympic champions in 2008 and 2012, the French will try in Tokyo to regain the top step of the podium of the Games, ceded to Denmark in 2016 in Rio, after a defeat in the final.

They secured their place at the Olympics during a tournament in mid-March in Montpellier, taking first place ahead of Portugal, also qualified, and Croatia, European vice-champion 2020 and eliminated.

The group for Olympic preparation

Goalkeepers: Rémi Desbonnet (Nîmes), Yann Genty (Paris SG), Vincent Gérard (Paris SG)

Left wingers: Hugo Descat (Montpellier), Michaël Guigou (Nîmes) (c), Dylan Nahi (Paris SG)

Left-backs: Jean-Jacques Acquevillo (Nîmes), Romain Lagarde (Rhein-Neckar Löwen / GER), Timothey N'Guessan (FC Barcelona / ESP), Élohim Prandi (Paris SG)

Mid-centers: Nikola Karabatic (Paris SG / FRA), Kentin Mahé (Veszprem / HUN), Nedim Remili (Paris SG),

Pivots: Ludovic Fabregas (FC Barcelona / ESP), Luka Karabatic (Paris SG), Nicolas Tournat (Kielce / POL),

Right-backs: Dika Mem (FC Barcelona / ESP), Melvyn Richardson (Montpellier),

Right wingers: Luc Abalo (Elveru / NOR), Valentin Porte (Montpellier), Yanis Lenne (Montpellier)

Substitutes (on the list of 28 players sent on June 25 to the International Federation):

Goalkeeper: Kévin Bonnefoi (Montpellier)

Left-back / defender: Karl Konan (Aix)

Mid-centers: Nicolas Claire (Aix), Aymeric Minne (Nantes)

Right-back / Defender: Adrien Dipanda (St-Raphaël)

Right winger: Benoît Kounkoud (Paris SG)

Pivot: Théo Monar (Nantes)

The preparation schedule

June 23-July 6: internship in Créteil

July 5: announcement of the final list and France - Egypt in Paris (Coubertin stadium) at 7:00 p.m.

July 10-12: internship in Créteil

July 12: departure for Japan

July 13-20: internship in Koshu

July 18: France - Japan in Koshu

July 21: France - Denmark in Tokyo

© 2021 AFP