Swimmer Lana Pudar and soccer player Nemanja Bilbija were declared the best athletes of Mostar in 2023 in the selection of the Sports Association of the City of Mostar.
Lana Pudar, who won nine medals at the European and world championships in 2023, faces the biggest challenge in her career so far this summer: performing at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“There are many challenges ahead of us, and the highlight of the year is the Olympic Games in Paris. I will not promise anything, but I will try to do my best in order to prepare as well as possible and present our country in the best possible way. It remains to be seen where it will lead,” Lana said at last night’s awards ceremony.
Nemanja Bilbija won the double crown with Zrinjski last year, and on the way to the eighth championship title for the team from Mostar, the 33-year-old striker scored 24 goals and was the top scorer of the domestic championship.
Last year, Bilbija and Zrinjski also achieved the greatest success in Bosnia and Herzegovina. of club football, advancing to the group stage of the UEFA Conference League, as the first team from Bosnia and Herzegovina to do so.
“This award really means a lot. Mostar is like a second home for me, and I can only express positive impressions about these seven years spent here. Without the support of the team and management, I would not be where I am. Last year was extraordinary, both for me and for the city of Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We enjoyed it, I hope you did too, and we plan to repeat the success this year as well”, said Bilbija.
In the younger categories, Nikola Dankić (Herceg Judo Club), Gabriela Raič (Herceg Judo Club), Ivan Miličević (Herceg Judo Club), Korina Džidić (Borsa Judo Club), Danis Harmandić (ORKA Water Sports Club) were declared the best athletes in the younger categories. Ina Marić (Borsa judo club).
The most successful women’s senior team in 2023 is FK/NK Emina, while in the men’s competition that award went to HŠK Zrinski.
In the younger categories, club honors went to the Women’s Basketball Club Zrinjski 2010 and the Croatian Sports Club Zrinjski.
The president of the Mostar Table Tennis Club, Dragan Palameta, received the award for sports worker of the year, and the coach at the Orka Water Sports Club, Damir Đedović, received the award for the most successful coach in 2023.
The Sports Association of the City of Mostar also awarded special awards to prominent athletes, sports workers, clubs and individuals, namely STK Mostar for the achieved result (winning the championship and the BiH Cup in the 2022/23 season), Mo Stars Dance Club (the club is in 2023 organized the International Mediterranean Open Dance), Anđela Talić (recognition for the promotion of triathlon and aquathlon), Tennis Club Mostar (recognition for the sports event of the year, organization of the Davis Cup match BiH – Germany), Orka Mostar Water Sports Club (recognition for contribution, popularization, development of sports and top results achieved).
Awards for life’s work were given to the long-time coach at the University Swimming Club of Zrinjski, Marinko Ferenc, and former JK Hercegovac judoka Enver Kukuruzović, later a member of JK Mostar, coach, referee, instructor, Fena writes.
