Director of the tournament, member of the Assembly of the “Željezničar” Boxing Club, Enes Peštek, told Fena that it is the oldest and most traditional boxing tournament in our country. Since its establishment in 1993, the tournament has gathered more than 40 countries of Europe and the world and more than 500 boxers. It is included in the official calendar of the European and World Boxing Association, federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which gives it additional weight and international credibility.
The collision of east and west
12 countries and more than 80 boxers have registered to participate in this year’s tournament.
– Everything that carries the quality of boxing in Europe, and in the world, will gather in Sarajevo from November 4 to 9 – said Peštek.
The competition includes three age categories – juniors, youth and elite (seniors), in men’s and women’s competition, and the matches are boxed for three rounds of three minutes each – youth and elite (seniors), in men’s and women’s, while juniors box three rounds of two minutes each.
The best participants will win gold, silver and bronze medals, while special cups will be awarded for the best boxer, the most fighting couple and the best technician of the tournament.
– I can say vividly that it will be a collision of east and west, boxing culture, boxing technique, the organization itself, demonstrating techniques, different styles and everything that gives another richness to the tournament itself – said Peštek.
He added that very good, quality fights are expected.
– What ‘coincided’ through the calendars is that after this tournament, two European championships will take place in Armenia and in Germany, so the countries came to try out their boxers, to see their current quality, because of the very performance at the European championships – Peštek said.
The technical organizer of the “Hakija Turajlić” International Memorial Boxing Tournament is the Željezničar Sarajevo Boxing Club, and the tournament is held with the support of: the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Refik Lenda, and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton and the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo.
Bring back the old glory
Speaking about the current state of boxing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peštek said that quality comes from quantity, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina has quantity and a good dose of quality.
– However, what the Bosnian boxers lack is precisely this kind of tournament, competition, in order to ‘collide’ the strength and see the value of the boxers themselves before the official championships such as European, world … – said Peštek.
At the end of the conversation, they also referred to the plans of the Željezničar Boxing Club, saying that they are trying to “bring back the old glory.”
– We will fight through the organization of tournaments and through competitions in the leagues and championships themselves and through the organization of boxing camps, to try to raise the quality of Željezničar boxers and return to their old glory – said Peštek.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
