Karol Bielecki, photo: wikipedia

Just six weeks after losing an eye during a friendly with Croatia, Polish handball star Karol Bielecki is back in training and can’t wait for the next big tournament to start.

Bielecki lost his left eye in the game on June 11. But the 28 year old says he feels better now he back in traning and playing the game he loves.

“I feel better now,” Bielecki, for years one of the main pillars of the national team., told the PAP news agency. “I feel more secure, have regained my self-confidence. I want to play at the level I did before and I believe that I will succeed "

Bielecki plays his club handball with the German team Rhein-Neckar Loewen, where he has been in training for several days and has played two friendly matches against local sides.

Aside for having to adjust to only having one eye, Karol also has to get used to playing in protective goggles. “It's for the good of his health. We must do everything to protect the right eye," says Dr Thomas Katlun at the rehabilitation clinic in Heidelberg.

Bielecki suffered the eye injury in a collision with Croatia’s Josip Valcic in the first minute of a non-competitive match in Kielce. After two operations, in Lublin and Tübingen doctors failed to save the silver (2007) and bronze (2009) world championship medalist’s eye.

Initially, he wanted to end his career but after a few days he changed his mind and got back into training. Now his goal is to get back into the national team and win more medals. (pg)