Bosnia's biggest hopes at the Olympics: Cerić and Tuka ready, eyeing medals

Today (August 12) at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, we expect performances from our main hopes Amel Tuka and Larisa Cerić, and alongside them, young swimmer Mihajlo Čeprkalo will also compete, reports the Patria news agency.

Tuka will compete in the 800-meter qualifying race at 3:10 PM, marking his debut appearance at the Olympic Games.

Alongside Tuka in the heat will be Boris Berian (USA), Žan Rudolf (Slovenia), Kleberson Davide (Brazil), Ayanleh Souleiman (Djibouti), Antoine Cakeme (Burundi), Musa Hajdari (Kosovo), and Kipchichir Abraham Rotich (Bahrain).

Tuka will face strong competition from many good competitors, with the narrowest circle including the reigning Olympic and world champion, Kenyan David Rudisha, as well as Poles Adam Kszcot and Marcin Lewandowski, and Nijel Amos from Botswana. Others include Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich from Kenya and Pierre-Ambroise Bosse from France. Many believe that Tuka reaching the final would be a great success.

Incidentally, only the top eight advance to the final. These are the best competitors in the world with times ranging from 1:43:00 to 1:44:00. All of them can reach the final, and our Amel Tuka is certainly among them.

Reaching the final is a big deal because there are three semifinal heats, with the top two from each advancing, plus two runners with the best times.

Gianni Ghidini, the coach of our best athlete Amel Tuka, says that Amel has prepared well and believes he can advance.

But these are the Olympic Games, and everyone has prepared to the maximum - says Amel Tuka's coach, adding that it is important to have energy and motivation to continue the fight and to prepare the right tactics to overpower the opponent.

The best female athlete of Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years, judoka Larisa Cerić, alongside athlete Tuka, is Bosnia's biggest hope when it comes to results in Brazil. She also competes today at 4:15 PM.

The biggest favorite in her category is Cuban Idalys Ortiz, the Olympic champion from London 2012.

Larisa has repeatedly emphasized that as far as she is concerned, anything is possible, and she hopes for a medal. The 25-year-old from Travnik, a member of the Judo Club Nippon from Sarajevo, is ready for her performance in the over 78 kg category, competing against 17 other athletes.

- Everyone wants a medal, but the one who has their day will take it; I hope that day will be mine. I want to achieve the best possible result, not just for myself, my family, and friends, but for my Bosnia and Herzegovina - Cerić said.

At the start of the tournament, Cerić will fight against Tunisian Nihel Cheikh Rouhou, a three-time African champion. The Bosnian judoka defeated the same opponent two months ago at the qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the fight for third place.

If she passes the first hurdle, Cerić will most likely face two-time European champion, Frenchwoman Emilie Andeol, in the second round, who meets Mexican Vanessa Zambotti in the first round.