World bronze at the age of 22. At 24, Nemanja Čađenović from Podgorica stopped short of realizing his sporting dreams - in a twist of fate, he was defeated in the finals of Abu Dhabi for silver at the largest kickboxing event. After three exhausting matches, in the fourth - the final of the World Championship in the low-kick category up to 71 kilograms, the gold went to the more experienced Ukrainian Bohdan Sitnik, by a 2:1 vote.
With the silver medal, Nemanja showed incredible talent and class, and there's no need to talk about his courage in a sport they call "dangerous"...
- The "pieces" simply didn't line up this time, but I'll take that one more step. Compared to the last championship, I did it, and the right time for me in low kick is yet to come. And the biggest fights and successes. After three days of consecutive fights, on the final day I entered the ring on one leg, they had a hard time putting on my helmet because of the hematoma... But, you forget all that and the goal of winning pushes you forward. I won the first round 3:0, but the schedule worked in his favor, he had easier rivals. He won the semi-finals and quarter-finals with heavy knockouts. I beat Sitnik two years ago, both times, but he entered the final fresher. He gave up the fight after the first round, used the clinch and turned the result around. But I will definitely remember Abu Dhabi not only for the silver medal from the World Championship, but also for the organization, which is fantastic, they are far ahead of everyone else - the trophy kickboxer of Buducnost tells "Vijesti".
At the age of seven, he entered the gym recreationally, like many boys, but Čađenović did not give up after the first bruises and knockdowns that are inevitable from kicks or punches.
- In the beginning, it was a bit of a problem to explain to the parents, but over time it was accepted as part of the sport. And that pain, we who reach the fight for the most brilliant awards, practically do not feel - we Google it. I have no fear of injury, only of failure. Two to three training sessions a day, you guide each segment of the preparation of the account, you bring your body to the maximum and then it is difficult if the result does not follow. Yes, so I'm only afraid of failure. In the quarter-finals of Abu Dhabi the draw set me on the fantastically tough Azerbaijani, a guy who is as strong as a rock and keeps moving forward. I knew that there were no calculations and that I had to accept an open confrontation in order to get a medal, and I paid the price with three injuries. A hematoma on the ear, a cut lip and a left leg I couldn't lean on. But you grit your teeth and go towards the goal, because you don't want to fail. In the end, the final was between the two first seeds, and thanks to the rating, we were free in the first round. Despite that, it was only after 50 days that I managed to recover from my injuries and start using kicks in training. In low kick, only strong kicks are scored and it is impossible to avoid these serious injuries - explained Čađenović.
Last year, in addition to winning world silver, he won the World Cup in Turkey, while in Ukraine he had to settle for silver at a competition of the same rank.
- I still regret the gold in Abu Dhabi, because for me personally the fight in the quarterfinals was harder, but there is no time to recover. You even have to take care of your diet because every day of the championship there is a weigh-in at seven in the morning and anything over 71 kilograms is a disqualification. But that is fair because that way the rivals enter the match on equal terms. Those diets that are necessary are also hard to come by, and a month before the competition I reach 71 kilograms and I am at the same weight until the end of the championship - says the 183-centimeter tall KBK Budućnost fighter.
Čađenović started the calendar year with hand surgery, but still managed to achieve great results, and in September in Novi Sad, his fifth professional victory.
- It's a different sport even without a helmet, professional fights are still five rounds of five minutes each, although I come to matches in the biggest championships equally well prepared. I train in a way that I spar for 12 rounds. Coach Andrej Djeljošević I change sparring partners every minute, because I need to keep up with my rhythm and knowledge in this sport. The lack of sparring partners is a constant problem, but boxing or MMA fighters help. There will also be camps in Serbia or Bulgaria, and it is too early at my age to go to Thailand or the Netherlands. Those are plans for the future and an attack on titles in prestigious Glori competitions. Fortunately, the Kickboxing Federation headed by Ivan Strugar and selector Goran Radonjić "It provides us with a sufficient number of competitions to prepare for the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar. In addition, we also benefit from their advice in the ring or during preparation, because they have vast experience in winning and capturing the biggest trophies," concluded Čađenović.
Thailand before the attack on the European throne
This year, Nemanja Čađenović has three goals - the European Championship in North Macedonia, the World Cup in Thailand, and an attack on the WAKO European Champion title.
- The championship in North Macedonia is at the end of the year, in the meantime I want to attack the WAKO title and progress in the professional ring. The competition is fierce, after all, those 28 great fighters from Abu Dhabi have the same goal. It is a mitigating circumstance that now, as a member of the Special Police, I do one training session at work, and the other is in the Buducnost gym. Previously, I had to train before and after working hours. After college and my internship, I was given an opportunity in the Special Unit by the decision of the police director and I want to progress professionally there as well - says Čađenović, adding that the job is necessary due to the categorization of kickboxing in Montenegrin sports.
- The awards are really more than modest according to that categorization, but if you are the best or at the top, then all that pain, work and sacrifices pay off in time. After all, I have traveled the world, met numerous cultures and great people. I also enjoy receiving praise for my results and I was not wrong. I love sports, I used to watch Moto GP, basketball... and now I only watch kickboxing and football. I don't have time, unfortunately!
Do you find time for football?
- I simply don't miss a single Barcelona game. We're all in front of the TV when my sister Katarina plays, even my one-year-old daughter Anđelija - joked Čađenović and explained:
- Football is also a family obsession, a passion. My sister Katarina is a member of the Montenegrin national team. She is only 19 years old, but she is a standard player in the midfield of ŽFK Sarajevo and has already made her first appearances for our senior national team - the best Montenegrin kickboxer concluded with pride.
Bonus video:
