The “Badminton za Sve – Ljetno Izdanje” tournament, held on May 25th, 2024, at Osnovna Skola Sukošan, was a grand success. This was the largest badminton tournament ever held in the Zadar region, with a total of 63 players registering for various categories. The tournament saw participation from players from a variety of cities, marking a first in its history.
Due to unforeseen changes, the tournament had to be relocated from the originally planned location of Sports Center Visnjik to Osnova Skola Sukošan. Despite the change in venue, the tournament was a resounding success, thanks to the amazing support from club members and supporters. In just a week’s time, the team managed to set up 6 courts, creating an atmosphere for all the players to enjoy the fastest racket sport.
Tournament Highlights
The tournament was filled with intense matches and nail-biting finishes. Here are some of the highlights:
- In the Mixed Doubles D (XDD), the team of Marija LUČIĆ and Ivica LUČIĆ from BK Split emerged victorious, defeating Mariia PODVISNOVA from Badmintonski klub Zadar and Zdenko F JUKIC from BK Iader with a score of 15-11, 15-11 in the final.
- The Women’s Doubles D (WDD) saw Franka ANTOLIĆ and Marijeta VIDUČIĆ from BK Zadar clinch the title by finishing on top of the league winning all 4 matches, while Ivana MARIJANČIĆ from BK Concordia and Ivana TIČIĆ from BK Iader finished on 2nd place with 3 wins and 1 loss..
- In the Men’s Singles C-D (MS C-D), Milan KEKEZ from Badmintonski klub Zadar emerged as the champion, defeating Luka TROPŠEK from BK ORKA with a score of 17-15, 15-11 in the final.
- The Women’s Singles C-D (WS C-D) was won by Ana GRGINOVIĆ from BK Iader , who defeated Josipa TOMIĆ from Vinkovci with a score of 15-13, 15-13 in the final.
- In the Mixed Doubles C (XDC), the team of Adea BEZMALINOVIĆ from BK Škrok and Milan KEKEZ from Badmintonski klub Zadar emerged victorious, defeating Sanka PAVIČEVIĆ and Dragan PAVIČEVIĆ from BK Split with a score of 16-14, 15-8 in the final.
- The Men’s Doubles C-D (MD C-D) was won by the team of Branimir KUŠCEVIĆ and Jure LUKŠIĆ from BK Škrok, who defeated Milan KEKEZ and Cristian VUGER from BK Zadar with a score of 15-13, 13-15, 18-16 in the final.
- In the Women’s Doubles B-C (WD B-C), the team of Vesela JOVANOVIĆ and Ana STEFANOVSKI from BK Split clinched the title, defeating Danijela ŠARIC from BK Split and Gala ZUKIC from BK Concordia with a score of 13-15, 15-10, 15-13 in the final.
- The Mixed Doubles B (XD B) was won by the team of Vesela JOVANOVIĆ and Bernard PUŠIĆ from BK Split, who defeated Gala ZUKIC from BK Concordia and Filip KNEŽEVIĆ from BK Sušak with a score of 15-13, 15-13 in the final.
- In the Men’s Doubles B (MDB) the team of Josip BAŠIĆ from BK ŠKROK and Marino Marčina from Zadar defeated Filip KNEŽEVIĆ from BK Sušak and Bernard PUŠIĆ from BK Split to clinch the title with score of 15-10: 15-10.
Club Performance
The tournament saw participation from several clubs. Here’s a breakdown of performance by various clubs.
- BK Split: The club had the highest number of participants (24) and also the highest number of winners. They secured the most number of Gold medals (6) and also the most top 3 positions overall (17).
- Badmintonski klub Zadar: The club had a significant number of participants(12) and winners. They secured 2nd positons in total number of medals (10) with 4 Gold medals.
- BK Škrok ranked 3rd with overall number of medals in the tournament (8) with 4 gold.
Other clubs followed with total number medals as BK Iader (5), BK Concordia(3), BK Sušak (2) with Vinkovci and BK ORKA with 1 medal each.
The tournament was not just about the sport, but also about fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among the participants. The Badminton Club Zadar, with the support from sponsors Cafe Galerija Gina, Zadar and badminton enthusiasts, ensured that the players were well taken care of. Refreshments including water, juice, cola, and a variety of food items such as sandwiches, sweets, fruits, and pizza were organized for the players, adding to the overall festive atmosphere of the tournament.
In addition to the thrill of the competition, the top three players in all categories were rewarded with practical gifts including shuttlecocks, overgrips, and souvenirs, courtesy of sponsors Zarasin Solutions and BadmintonPlanet EU. Special gifts were also presented to the youngest and oldest participants, acknowledging their spirit and enthusiasm. A couple of lucky draw gifts, provided by sponsors Badminton Planet and Drazević Trade d.o.o. Zadar, added an element of surprise and excitement to the event. These gestures not only celebrated the winners but also recognized the effort and dedication of all participants, making the “Badminton za Sve – Ljetno Izdanje” a truly memorable event.
The “Badminton za Sve – Ljetno Izdanje” tournament was a testament to the growing popularity of badminton in the Zadar region. The successful organization of the tournament, despite the change in venue, is a testament to the dedication and passion of the club members and supporters. We look forward to more such tournaments in the future, fostering the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie among the players.
Badminton Za Sve – Zimsko Izdanje would be planned in around November-December. To be informed about the exact dates and registration, please follow club’s official website, Facebook and instagram pages.
Full results are available online on Tournament Software
