Sarajevo International Airport welcomed the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina in sitting volleyball today, which returned from the World Championship in China, where it won a silver medal and qualified for the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
The plane carrying our volleyball players landed at 1:12 p.m.
A special recognition at the championship went to Safet Alibasic, who was declared the best sweeper of the World Championship.
Selector Ifet Mahmutović pointed out that he regrets a better game in the final because he is convinced that our players would have celebrated if they had not been overtaken by fatigue.
“What the national team generally planned and achieved – we qualified for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The regret remains a bit after that final, in which, I must admit, we did not play well, and I must say that fatigue was also the cause. Iran played its best game in the tournament, and we gave about 50 percent of our strength against them,” said Mahmutović and added:
“If we had played a match like against Brazil, it would surely have been a gold medal here as well. But that’s how it is in sports, that fall. It is logical that this fall must come. Because playing seven games at the top level, day after day, day after day, is still very difficult. But here, Iran managed better than us at this moment. I also congratulate the boys on this occasion, they were fantastic, they were united, we worked. “Being second in the world is no small thing in every respect, but I always regret it because I claim we are better,” said Mahutović.
The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina in sitting volleyball won the silver medal at the World Championship in Hangzhou, China, after being defeated by Iran 3:1 in the final match (25:21, 25:20, 20:25 and 25:16).
By reaching the finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina ensured its appearance at the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, fulfilling one of the main goals of this championship.
Bh. the delegation at the World Cup consisted of national team members Ismet Godinjak, Adnan Manko, Stevan Crnobrnja, Armin Šehić, Asim Medić, Mirzet Duran, Nizam Čančar, Dževad Hamzić, Edin Đino, Safet Alibašić, captain Sabahudin Delalić, Ermin Jusufović, Alen Prašović and Elvis Šerifović, and members of the professional staff: selector Ifet Mahmutović, assistant coaches Ejub Mehmedović and Nedžad Salkić, economist Tarik Smailbegović and team manager Dino Šečić.
