On June 7, 2025, the Sports Center Visnjik, Zadar once again pulsed with the energy of youth as the second round of the Dalmatinska liga 2025 brought together 51 talented young shuttlers representing four clubs from across the Dalmatian coast. Players from BK Zadar(8), BK Split(12), BK Dubrovnik(19), and BK Iader(12) competed in a full day of fast-paced matches across boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles categories. The tournament, organized under the Croatian Badminton Association, featured players from U11 to U19 age groups and continued to highlight the growing depth of talent across the region.
The tournament was not only a competitive arena but also a celebration of the sport, as evidenced by the special artist corner where young participants added extra colors to BK Zadar’s mission to “Add Badminton to Your Life.” The provision of refreshments for the kids further highlighted the club’s commitment to creating a nurturing and supportive environment.
Medal Tally and Highlights
Total medal count
| Club | Gold 🥇 | Silver 🥈 | Bronze 🥉 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BK Dubrovnik | 10 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
| BK Split | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 |
| BK Zadar | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
| BK Iader | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
Medal count by age category
| Club | U11 | U13 | U15 | U19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BK Dubrovnik | 2 | 7 | 13 | 3 |
| BK Split | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| BK Zadar | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| BK Iader | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
BK Zadar’s Shining Stars
BK Zadar’s own contingent, though the smallest with 8 players, made a significant impact by securing 11 medals. Lea Šimurina’s triumph in the GS U13 category was a testament to her mental strength, overcoming a tough opponent Magdalena Knezović (BK Split) 12:10,7:11,11:9 to clinch her gold . The participation of Lana Brkić and Rafael Toman, who have just started playing this year, exemplified the club’s encouraging atmosphere.
In the U19 Boys doubles, Jakov Bljaić and Dominik Stipetić earned a well-fought bronze medal. It was a tough call with top 3 pairs all finished with 2:1, at the end it a marginal difference that moved them to bronze from Silver. Hopefully they learn from this experience that every point matters when things get tough. Franka Antolić’s second-place finish in the GS U19 and third place in GD U19, alongside her partner Tea Ljubičić from BK Iader, was particularly noteworthy as they were playing for the first time together.
Special Mentions:
The partnership of Franka Antolić and Tea Ljubčić was a highlight. They played together for the first time. They missed the silver by a small margin in very tough match against Ana Varivoda(BK Split) and Lucija Videka(BK Split) 11:13, 11:9, 14:15 in the Girls Doubles U19. They improved from first match to the last very quickly. Hopefully if they play more together the result could have been different..
Mihaela Dokoza is showing progress over time. She finally improved her single and got bronze in GS U13. At the same time she has improved her partnership with Lea Šimurina to clinch silver in GD U13. We are looking forward to her improvement and hopefully this progress will give her some motivation to focus further on her game.
Conclusion
The “Dalmatinska Liga 2.Kol” was more than a tournament; it was a vibrant festival of badminton that brought together the community, nurtured young talent, and embodied the spirit of BK Zadar’s motto. As the club continues to foster the growth of badminton, we eagerly anticipate the future achievements of these young athletes. The success of this event has undoubtedly added a new chapter to the club’s legacy, one that will inspire many more to “add badminton to your life.”
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