Nedžad Husić with good chances to compete at the Tokyo Olympics

(Patria) - A press conference of the Taekwondo Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held today in Sarajevo, discussing the work and results in the previous period, among which the most significant achievement is that of Nedžad Husić, who won a bronze medal at the European Senior U21 Championship, which is also the best result for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Olympic taekwondo in history. In addition, the trip of BH competitors to the Balkan Championship in Sofia was announced. 

The media representatives were addressed by the President of the Taekwondo Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Samir Šarić, the national team coach, Haris Husić, and the medal winner, Nedžad Husić.

The President of the Taekwondo Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Samir Šarić, said on this occasion:

“I would like to express great gratitude to the media for the support they provide us. Nedžad Husić is our most promising taekwondo athlete and we all place great hopes in him. The Taekwondo Association will do everything to achieve even better results in the future.” 

In addition, Šarić pointed out that 88 competitors will travel to the Balkan Championship organized by the Taekwondo Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

“Our goal is to show how organized we are and how much we can do in order to get the organization of the Balkan Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina next year. As you know, the G1 qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics will be held in our country in October in Zenica, and next year we will host the European Junior and Senior Championship. 88 competitors are going on this trip, 80 from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and eight from the Republika Srpska.”

Nedžad Husić, a contender for the Tokyo Olympics, said:

“Last week I participated in the European Under-21 Championship where I won third place and also the best result in the senior competition in history. I will use the upcoming period to prepare as well as possible for the G tournaments, including the Bosnia and Herzegovina G1 Open which will be held in October in Zenica. I will try to collect as many points as possible in order to distance myself from the competitors in the coming period.”

Coach Haris Husić also addressed those present:

“At the past tournament, we led 13 competitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we gave a chance to other competitors as well. Besides Nedžad, good results were achieved by Dora Marušić, Sadmir Habibović and Edna Abaspahić, who showed great desire and will in the fights. Other competitors must work more on themselves in order to achieve good results. Besides Nedžad, we have a few more competitors we work with and in whom we invest especially. The result achieved came through hard work. You cannot expect a senior who suddenly appeared and won a medal; it is a process that takes 10-15 years. Our Nedžad, despite good results, does not have a guaranteed participation in the Tokyo Olympics, which he can achieve if he is a finalist at the European Qualifications in 2020. He has those qualities, but a bit of luck is also needed for a good result.”

Nedžad Husić will soon turn 18, and so far he has won third place at the Junior World Championship in Tunisia as well as a medal at the European Junior Championship held in Cyprus. At the Balkan Championship, he has won gold and silver medals in the cadet and junior categories. He is still a high school student, and as he pointed out, his teachers accommodate him when he goes to competitions, which he later makes up for and justifies.”