On April 27th, 2024, the Sv. Duje recreational badminton tournament was hosted by Badmintonski Klub Split, marking the largest event to date with a remarkable turnout of 104 athletes across three skill categories. The tournament featured a diverse roster of players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Croatia.
Among the participants were two promising young talents from Badmintonski klub Zadar: Franka Antolic, an 8th-grade student, and Marijeta Viducic, a first-year secondary school student. Competing in the ‘D’ level, they showcased their skills in Women’s Singles (WS), Women’s Doubles (WD), and Mixed Doubles (XD).
In a stellar performance, Franka Antolic clinched the Gold Medal in WS, dominating her matches in straight games. Marijeta Viducic also made a strong impression, securing the Bronze Medal with two wins and two losses.
The Mixed Doubles saw the young athletes paired with partners they had not previously known. Marijeta teamed up with a 12-year-old boy, displaying great effort but ultimately falling in the group stage. Franka, partnered with the seasoned Branimir Kuscevic, triumphed in their group, winning all three matches with ease. Their semi-final match began with a tense start, losing the first game 10:15. However, a surge of encouragement propelled them to victory in the subsequent games, 15:10, 15:10. The final proved challenging against formidable opponents, but Franka and Branimir’s growing synergy and strategic play earned them the Gold Medal with scores of 15:13 in both games.
In the WD category, the initial game served as a strategic assessment of their opponents, leading to a loss of 13:15. Yet, the duo quickly adapted, decisively winning the next two games 15:6, 15:5. Their toughest competitors, Ivana Radovan and Natasa Stefanovski from BK Split, leveraged their experience to secure a win against the Zadar pair.
Advancing to the semi-finals and eventually facing Ivana and Natasa once more in the finals, Franka and Marijeta engaged in a thrilling match that highlighted their rapid learning curve. They took the first game 15:13, but the seasoned duo from BK Split prevailed in a tight second game 14:16. The final game was a testament to the close competition, with experience narrowly outpacing youth, resulting in a Silver Medal for the Zadar team.
The commendations from their seasoned opponents serve as a testament to Franka and Marijeta’s skill and determination. With only nine months of training, their journey is just beginning. The club remains committed to providing unwavering support, encouragement, and guidance as these young athletes navigate the competitive world of badminton.
Winners of all categories and all match results are available online on Tournament Software.
Many thanks to the tournament host, Badmintonski Klub Split, for organizing such tournaments to help develop sports of Badminton in the region. We hope to see you next time with more players.
In Dalmatia next recreation tournament will be held in Zadar on May 25th, 2024 in Sports Centar Višnjik. Badminton Club Zadar is the main organizer with support from our Sponsors. Find more details on our website and register your entry.
Below are some moments from the tournament.
