- The traditional international badminton tournament, consistently one of Europe's top three youth events, expanded its reach this year, attracting nearly 450 competitors and 1,000 participants from 23 countries at the "Slana Bara" sports center from June 19th to 23rd -
The "Serbian U17 & Youth International Novi Sad 2024," an event supported by Badminton Europe, the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Tourism and Youth, Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth, and the City of Novi Sad broke previous records with its high number of participants and set new standards in organization.
The twelfth edition of one of the Europe's largest international youth competition concluded on Sunday after five intense days of competition. Europe's best young talents in the under 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 categories vied for top honors in men's and women's singles, as well as in men's, women's, and mixed doubles.
The tournament commenced on Wednesday, June 19th, with matches among younger age groups, followed by juniors in the U17 category on Friday, June 20th.
Romania achieved the best results at the Serbian YOUTH International with 13 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze in U11, U13, and U15 categories), while Türkiye excelled at the Serbian U17 International with 9 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze). Serbian athletes shone brightly, capturing five medals.
This year, special awards were given to the most outstanding competitors: Stiliyanos Iordanous from Cyprus for the youngest participant, Maxim Jakob from Romania for the most successful competitor in the YOUTH tournament with 2 gold medals and one silver, Elifnur Demir from Türkiye for the most successful U17 competitor with gold medals in women's singles and women's doubles, and Mocan Aleksandru, Nita Dragoș, Sirbu Kristina from Romania, and Čarna Mihajlović from Serbia for their continuous participation in all tournaments up to the U17 age category over the years.
The closing ceremony of this "international badminton celebration" was marked by the presentation of special awards to outstanding competitors. The ceremony was graced by prominent figures including Assistant Minister for Tourism Nemanja Radović, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth Aranka Binder, BASS Board President and BEC Director Radomir Jovović, BASS founder and board member Predrag Vuković, and sponsor Predrag Marčetić.
"We successfully brought together over 1,000 participants and nearly 450 competitors from 23 European countries. Despite the hottest week in the last decade, we ensured excellent competitive conditions and a vibrant atmosphere at the 'Slana Bara' Sports Center in Novi Sad. We are thrilled to have once again pushed boundaries and demonstrated that Serbia is a country of sports and an excellent host. The Serbian Youth is also a great prelude to the upcoming European Championship for players under 15, where our duo, Radovanović and Stevanović, will compete. The tournament for players under 17 has received Grand Prix status and is officially the best and largest youth competition in Europe, which also encourages younger categories to progress. Our players won five medals, which is a significant achievement in such a strong competition," said Radomir Jovović, expressing deep gratitude to the tournament's sponsors and supporters.
The Serbian U17 & Youth International is officially recognized as a significant event for the Republic of Serbia, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, and the City of Novi Sad. Assistant Minister for Tourism Nemanja Radović emphasized that sports events, alongside gastronomic ones, represent one of the greatest tourist potentials and challenges. “This sports event hosted a large number of foreign guests, resulting in over 5,000 overnight stays in Novi Sad over the week,” noted Radović. Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth Aranka Binder highlighted their long-standing support for this wonderful competition, adding, “The Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth has supported this wonderful competition for years. We are extremely satisfied with the cooperation and results of these young badminton competitors. The Secretariat focuses heavily on these young athletes as they need the most support.”
The traditional "Serbian U17 & Youth International Novi Sad 2024" tournament ranks among the top three events of its kind in Europe in terms of participation, organizational standards, athlete quality, and other relevant parameters, listed in the official calendar of the European Badminton Confederation. Domestic young badminton players have garnered hundreds of medals at international competitions, showcasing Serbia's excellence in this Olympic sport, which has rightfully advanced into the category of national sports in recent years.
Organizers of the badminton tournament in Novi Sad include the Badminton Association of Serbia, Badminton Association of Vojvodina, and the Novi Sad Badminton Club. The "Serbian U17 & Youth International" is supported by Victor Sport, Beoexpo System, Tin Šped, Coca Cola HBC Serbia, Bambi, VBS Solutions, Jungman Travel, the Tourist Organization of Serbia, the Tourist Organization of Vojvodina, the Tourist Organization of Novi Sad.