Montenegrin karate players amazed the Old Continent, aiming for three medals in the final

From the special reporter "Vijesti"

Fighting for the gold in the category up to 67 kilograms against the Hungarian Iveš Tadeši, Nenad Dulović will decide tomorrow at 18.40:59 p.m. the glory of the medal at the XNUMXth European Karate Championship.

In the cult hall "Krešimir Ćosić" in Zadar, from 11 a.m., our 20-year-old representative Nemanja Mikulić will fight for bronze in the middle category, against Enes Bulat from Turkey.

On Sunday, the men's kata team of Montenegro will have the last chance for another medal in the competition with Azerbaijan.

And there is reason for optimism, since yesterday in the city of basketball, Zadar, with another incredible tactical victory by Carlo Ancelotti for the final of the Champions League, Real, the club of the most famous fellow citizen Luka Modric, the most important topic was the heroic victory of the Montenegrin team over the Croatian team, which was the first championship favorite.

But the epic feat was not enough for a medal, as Slovakia got in the way in the quarter-finals.

And how was it from the beginning?

After an easy victory over Latvia, Montenegro won 3:2 against the first favorite - Croatia. Led by multiple European and world champions, brothers Ivan and Anđelo Kvesić, and the finalist of four consecutive European championships, Enes Garibović, as well as the finalist of this championship in the middle category, Ivan Martinac, the "fiery" were considered a punishing expedition. How badly they wanted the gold is evidenced by the month of preparation in Sharm al-Sheikh with the best team in the world, Egypt.

But the "falcons" had the last word - Martinac was won by our middleweight fighter - Mikulić, Garibović was outclassed by the staunch Nikšić native Nikola Malović with as many as 8:1.

The "fifth" was decided by the finalists of tomorrow's program - the local heavyweight Anđelo and the Youth fighter up to 67 kilograms, Nenad Dulović.

The Croatian, who weighs about twenty kilograms and is 16 centimeters taller, was the absolute favorite, but already halfway through the fight, everyone in the "Krešimir Ćosić" hall, except for the "headquarters" of the Croatian team, was cheering for Nenad. And he didn't disappoint the audience, he scored as many as three juko points and won by an incredible 5:2.

- In the last 30 years, a fighter from a category closer to lightweight has not defeated a trophy heavyweight, and Dulović still did it on his rival's mat. Dulović is incredible, he is the pearl of Montenegrin sports. He confirmed the matrix of mythical courage and big heart of Montenegrin fighters - said the director of the national team, Miodrag Radunović.

However, the schedule after the epic battles was merciless, Mikulić took the lead but lacked freshness, not desire, and was defeated with an incredible total of 24 points (13:11).

Malović settled the match with Slovakia in less than a minute - cleanup and "dunk" for three, and then cinematically - he hit the back of the head with the heel of his left foot and then a left swing to the body for the victory by stoppage.

However, even Dulović's team did not last until the fifth board, losing 3:1, and Slovakia dropped the victory against Greece in 20 seconds and closed the door to our match for bronze through a rematch.

- Emotionally and definitely, the match against Croatia exhausted the team, we lacked a physiotherapist, because coach Dejan Ivanović and I can't do everything. But even if the trial was good, it's as if the Croats are not the hosts. Unlike the previous fights, when we lost only after we used up the opportunity to challenge. It affects a lot, it wears out a fighter - said coach Almir Cecunjanin.

And our women catalists in the change of generations were not close to a medal, except for Anja Jović, who was prevented only by bad judging criteria. There were also big victories, but without continuity in the following matches.

Only Dulović will fight for the gold tomorrow, Mikulić for the bronze, and on Sunday the men's kata team - Vladimir Mijač, Kenan Nikočević, Arijan Kočan and Nikola Milić, will defend their bronze from Guadalajara against the Azerbaijan team.

- We would all sign this result before the competition. And less! It was seen that we could do much more, but objectively - injuries, illnesses during preparation, and some other circumstances did not really give us much space. And the championship is never more massive, and everyone is working very hard, progressing. But we are proud of the team, and success in the final matches would be historic, for karate and Montenegro - concluded Radunović.