Kostelic returns after knee scare
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Kostelic in good shape and chasing a weekend double in Austria
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FLACHAU, Austria, (Reuters) -- Slalom world champion Ivica Kostelic returns to action in Austria this weekend, less than three weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
Kostelic, who won gold at the world championships in St Moritz last year, will take part in Saturday's giant slalom and his speciality event 24 hours later.
The 26-year-old Croatian had feared his season was over after injuring his troublesome right knee while winning a slalom race in Madonna di Campiglio on December 15.
However, the injury was not as bad as first feared and a minor operation to remove a piece of cartilage has cured the problem.
The World Cup slalom champion trained this week in Austria and the Croatian team manager Vedran Pavlek said there had been no adverse reaction.
"He's in good shape and ready to give his best in both competitions," Pavlek said.
Kostelic is joint fourth in the slalom standings.
