The Montenegrin karate team finished the European Championship in Zadar in 10th place out of 51 countries in the cult hall "Krešimir Ćosić", which the locals call Peka (translated as sač), although...
Performances and quality of fights and demonstrations in the floors on four tatami mats in the best organized and most massive championship - ever, are not a true indicator of the strength of the Montenegrin expedition. The selected fight selectors, Almir Cecunjanin, and the kata, Milena Milačić and Biserka Radulović, showed the quality for the top five best in Europe, but there was disagreement among the judges in only the second competition with the VAR system, while the World Karate Federation also protects its champions, and traditionally the biggest "forces".
Of the three chances for medals, only Nenad Dulović could not lose, because he was in the final and his silver is the only medal. He didn't even lose in the final (1:1), but the advantage of the first point gave Hungary the first and only medal, with which it overtook our selection in the standings.
- The championship was successful, the goal was achieved and the continuity of medals from the biggest competitions continued - said the president of KSCG, former trophy karate player and now equally successful manager Predrag Perković, and added:
- We have shown that we are competitive in numerous other categories and disciplines. Dulović proved his class, he added the final of last year's World Championship to the final of the European Championship. He is the first Montenegrin karate player who combined those two finals. The kata team had a medal match for the third year in a row, Nemanja Mikulić also had a medal match in his second appearance in the seniors, and he will surely make us happy soon. And the state invests more and more in karate, but the regulations for awards to the best are unfair, we will ask for changes - Perković is decisive.
At the press conference were Dulović, Mikulić, team leader Vladimir Mijač, his coach Milačić and national team director Miodrag Radunović.
- The silver medal is not a small result, because none of the Montenegrin karate players managed to reach two finals in a row. It is a lot of dedicated work, physical and mental preparations, pain and sacrifices. I succeeded thanks to the support of my family, club coach Žarko Raković, fitness coach Dejan Vujisić, professional representative team and the Association. I don't have any more big competitions this year, so I will help the younger ones in the Omladinac club and the national team to perform as well as possible - promised Dulović - regardless of weight category, as a leader in European and world karate, but he didn't stop there:
- In half a year, I brought two big medals to Montenegro and I hope that they will be valued as they deserve - concluded Dulović.
He does not hide that he was tired in the final, as he also fought for the team that eliminated the first favorite, Croatia, in the second round. Right on the fifth board, he won the European heavyweight champion from the final in Zadar, Anđel Kvesić, even though the local fighter is 20 kilograms heavier and ten centimeters taller than our fighter in the category up to 67 kilograms.
- Unfortunately, fighting for the Montenegrin team is a matter of honor. I wouldn't give that victory for nothing - the 25-year-old from Podgorica is clear, who also outclassed the Olympic winner from Tokyo, the Frenchman Da Costa, in the final of the world competition in Budapest, but...
- Well, several billions saw Bayern Real's goal in overtime, even the referees in the WKF are not without mistakes - the referees justify themselves to the numerous remarks of the participants of the competition in Zadar.
The refereeing in it was still incomparably better than in Budapest - first with video control of points. But it is little consolation for our kartist Anja Jović, damaged by four points in the 2:1 defeat, and for entering the semi-finals up to 50 kilograms, or for Mikulić, who came to the fight for the medal with only one point beyond the challenge and did not placed in the finals when the possibility to request a check disappeared... The captain of our team, the trophy-winning Nikola Malović, after the victory over the European champion Martini (he won the gold with the team in Zadar), lost due to a material violation of the rules...
In the team, Malović demonstrated his strength, he won the four-time European runner-up, Enes Garibović, with 8:1, by stoppage after two ipons and vazari points of his rival from Slovakia, he won by stoppage after a minute of fighting. Slovakia was 21 seconds away from the team finals!
- I can never, never be as good individually as I am in a team. It's like I'm engulfed in flames and I'm burning everything in front of me - explained the 27-year-old economics graduate from Nikšić.
What can we say about Mijač in an individual performance...
- I was separated from the semi-finals by 0,2 points, the team by 0,5. Due to our youth, we burned out in desire in the medal match, we were better in the kata, but a little less accurate in the bunkai finish. In addition to the selector and trainer Cecunjanin, we are helped by the Federation, by organizing seminars and participating in competitions, we have become competitive. We are grateful to Dulović, who once again made Montenegro and our karate proud and is an example of how to work for a top result - said Mijač.
Along with the gold winner from Turkey, Ali Sofuoglu - the true heir of the Italian Luca Valdezi or the Venezuelan Dias, he showed the most in the first three stages of the performance in the record participation of 38 competitors.
And Dulović's result from Budapest - world silver was awarded with 4.000 euros from the same country. Although such a result half a year earlier in the Olympic karate cycle would have been worth 25.000 euros. The competition in karate has remained Olympic, because less than three years have passed since Tokyo, and the prizes - they are on the same level as football tournaments in Montenegrin villages...
- There were times when the result was well rewarded, but I also remember when it was worse. What is in the description of the Association will be fulfilled, we will provide our young competitors to participate and gain experience in numerous high-quality competitions - said selection director Radunović.
And yes, there was a period in pre-Olympic karate when a medal was awarded with a diploma or a trophy. In the Olympic cycle, karate athletes at least had scholarships from the Montenegrin Olympic Committee.
President Perković has no dilemma:
- It is necessary to change the lawyers, it is unfair. We in the Association will initiate fairer evaluation, we will also go forward with requests to the local governments to reward the best athletes as before, because they also promote their city, they are an example of the pride of the environment they come from - concluded Perković, in my short term four were won out of 13 Montenegrin big medals in that sport, two are historic and first - the European silver of the men's team and the bronze of the team at the EP in Guadalajara.
Bonus video:
