Balkan Championship Held in Sarajevo: BiH National Team Wins 11 Medals

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The 47th Balkan Junior Swimming Championship was held in Sarajevo last weekend, organized by the Swimming Federation of BiH. With the participation of around 130 top juniors from 12 countries, BiH national team members, numbering 11, also competed. The best juniors from Albania, BiH, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Cyprus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, and Turkey participated in this competition.

BiH's colors were defended by: Amar Šapčanin, Aleksa Krminac, Amer Voljevica, Emina Pašukan, Nejla Karić, Tarin Husić, Marko Kovačić, Marko Babić, Fatih Tahirović, Hena Mešić, and Elena Trivić, along with coaches Goran Grahovac and Evelin Avdić.

The BiH national team won a total of 11 medals, securing 6th place in the overall standings. The women's team placed 4th, and the men's team placed 6th, out of 12 national teams. These are the best placements our national team has achieved to date in all Balkan Championships.

Emina Pašukan won a gold medal and the title of Balkan Champion (200m breaststroke), as well as two silver medals (50m and 100m breaststroke). Hena Mešić won two silver medals (50m and 100m backstroke). Marko Kovačić won a silver medal (100m freestyle). Amar Šapčanin won a bronze medal (200m breaststroke). Aleksa Krminac won a bronze medal (100m backstroke). Nejla Karić won a bronze medal (800m freestyle).

The women's 4x100m medley relay, consisting of Hena Mešić, Emina Pašukan, Tarin Husić, and Nejla Karić, won 3rd place and a bronze medal. The men's relay in the same discipline also secured 3rd place and a bronze medal, with Aleksa Krminac, Amar Šapčanin, Amer Voljevica, and Marko Kovačić. Elena Trivić and Fatih Tahirović improved their personal best times and achieved good placements.

The organizer of this year's Balkan Championship in Sarajevo was the Swimming Federation of BiH, with the assistance of the Swimming Federation of the Federation of BiH, and the Olympic Pool Otoka. They received high praise for the perfect organization of the championship, as noted by representatives of all participating national teams. The competition was very strong, with 20 new Balkan records set. The most successful national team was Romania (294 points), followed by Slovenia (277 points), and then Turkey (267 points), while BiH took 6th place overall (177 points).