Bosnia and Herzegovina's team for the Paralympics presented, highest expectations for the golden volleyball players

(Patria) - The Paralympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented the team for the Paralympic Games, which will be held in Paris from August 28 to September 8. At the press conference held at the Malak hotel, the athletes who will represent our country in three sports – sitting volleyball, shooting, and swimming – were introduced.

The conference was attended by the Minister of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton, Kenan Magoda, who emphasized that he is particularly emotional when it comes to this team.

“These are people who truly represent sports, who actually send the message that anything is possible in sports, that there is no giving up and no excuses in sports. For that, as a minister, I sincerely thank them from the bottom of my heart, because what they are doing for our country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and what they are doing for sports cannot be bought with money, and there is no support that can adequately thank them. This homogeneity and synergy they possess should be a model for all sports clubs, all associations, all athletes involved in sports, as these guys are an example of how one should behave,” stated Minister Magoda.

Mirsad Muftić, a member of the Executive Board of the Paralympic Committee of BiH and the team doctor, also addressed the attendees and stated:

“These guys are an indicator that with effort, perseverance, and the support of all those who can help, they have the opportunity to return with the brightest medal, and every medal they bring is actually golden, because when you have an amputation and a health problem, and you forget about it all for two hours of play and are the strongest, that is actually invincibility.”

The BiH sitting volleyball team includes captain Sabahudin Delalić, Adnan Manko, Ermin Jusufović, Armin Šehić, Edin Đino, Dževad Hamzić, Asim Medić, Nizam Čančar, Ismet Godinjak, Stevan Crnobrnja, Safet Alibašić, and Mirzet Duran. The coaching staff includes head coach Ifet Mahmutović, coaches Ejub Mehmedović and Nedžad Salkić, physiotherapist Miodrag Ranđelović, team manager Dževad Šabeta, and president Hajrudin Zekić.

Head coach Mahmutović stated that he is satisfied with the progress of the preparations so far, but that the Olympic cycle is quite exhausting.

“I have to admit something, reluctantly, so that the players don't get too big-headed: this is the most prepared and best national team in the history of sitting volleyball in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I state that definitively because I have been with them since 1999, and for the past three years we have been together, they are three times better than they were at the very beginning. They are ready for the best results, and they are. We also have a bit of luck in the draw, and we hope to be in the final. And of course, I always repeat that slogan, only others say 'it's important to participate,' the first ones never say that,” said the head coach of the BiH sitting volleyball team, Ifet Mahmutović.

The representative of BiH in shooting is Ervin Bejdić, who will compete in three disciplines: P1, P2, and P3. Bejdić's coach is multiple BiH Olympian Nedžad Fazlija.

Our country's representative in swimming will be Ismail Barlov, a boy who became European champion at just 13 years old and qualified for the Paralympics. Traveling with Barlov are his coach Amel Kapo and his father Nihad as an assistant. As he is currently in Slovenia and could not physically attend the conference, Barlov joined via video link and stated:

“I am currently in Slovenia, in Kranj, undergoing final preparations for the Paralympic Games. My expectations have already been met because I managed to qualify at the age of 13, and I will strive to give my best in Paris. The feeling is fantastic to compete at only 13 years old; I could only dream of this before, and it is a great success for my career as well as for para-swimming in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The BiH sitting volleyball team will play its first match on August 29 against Egypt. Ervin Bejdić will compete on August 30, while Ismail Barlov will have his appearances in the 50m breaststroke and 150m individual medley disciplines on September 1 and 4, respectively.