Strahinja Mrdak named best boxer

The Montenegrin boxing team finished its performance at the Greatest Open international tournament in Lazarevac for the ages of 17 and 19 with ten medals.

Three gold and three silver medals and four bronze medals were won.

The tournament featured boxers from: Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Hungary, Cyprus, Slovenia, Montenegro and the host country, Serbia.

The most impressive impression was left by Strahinja Mrdak, who, with three top victories, won the gold medal in the 54 kg category and the trophy for the best boxer of the junior tournament.

The member of BK Budva dominated to win gold with victories over Hungarian Nagz Ruben, Slovak Mihael Kincel and local fighter, Serbian national team member Ilhan Šaćirović.

Gold medals were also won by Ena Hot, who defeated Hungarian Derina Varga in the final of the 57 kg category, as well as Luka Otašević, who defeated Satija Horvat from Hungary in the 52 kg category.

Silver medals went to Veselin Dedić, who in the 75 kg category, after a brilliant knockout victory over the European schoolboy champion, Serbian Viktor Majstorović, was defeated in the final by another Serbian national team member, Anrija Trajković, last year's European junior vice-champion, then Vasilije Bugarin in the over 80 kg category, who lost to Hungarian Levante Loran, as well as Marko Radulović in the 80 kg category, who was defeated in the final by Slovak Filip Mrva.

Bronze medals were won by Matija Roganović, who competed in the 90 kg category, heavier than his own, and lost to Greek Stefanous Atanasios, Andrija Nikitović (60 kg), who was defeated by another Greek, Ntoumazios Kvonos, Nikola Nenezić (+90 kg), after losing to Zejdo Gičić from Serbia, as well as Nikola Raičević, who lost to Greek Elejopios Zojpantis.

The only Montenegrin representative who did not win a medal in Lazarevac was Ivan Tijanić, who was defeated by Dominik Šir from Slovakia in the quarterfinals under 63 kg.

Coach Nikola Ružić said that the tournament in Lazarevac was of great importance in the process of creating a team for the upcoming major competitions - the European and World Championships, which will be held in Budva in October.

"We started forming teams on time for the European Under-17 Championship and the Under-19 World Championship, which will be held in Budva in October. The tournament in Lazarevac was an ideal opportunity to check where we are currently and to give a chance to a larger number of fighters," said Ružić.

He said that he was satisfied with what was shown, especially considering that they performed with a larger team in order to assess the potential of all candidates.

"We have quality and continuity of work and I believe that we will be ready for the challenges that await us. Strahinja Mrdak showed a great performance, we also believe that Veselin Dedić was injured in the final match, while Matija Roganović boxed in a heavier weight than his own, which makes his result even more significant," Ružić pointed out.