Jayce
The “2024 Serbian U17 and Youth International Novi Sad Tournament,” supported by the European Badminton Confederation (BEC), the Serbian Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth, and the city of Novi Sad, has set a new record for participation and set a new standard in organization.
Held from June 19 to 23 at the “Slana Bara” Sports Center, the tournament attracted nearly 450 players and 1,000 participants from 23 countries, making it one of Europe’s largest international youth badminton events.
The 12th edition of this prestigious event concluded on Sunday after five days of intense competition, featuring the best young talents in Europe across categories including U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17 in both singles and doubles events.
The tournament began with matches for the younger age groups on June 19, followed by U17 youth events on June 20.
Romania emerged as the top performer with 13 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze in U11, U13, and U15 categories). Turkey excelled in the U17 competition, winning 9 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze). Serbian athletes also delivered impressive performances, earning 5 medals.
Special awards were presented to outstanding players during the closing ceremony: Stiliyanos Iordanous from Cyprus was recognized as the youngest participant; Maxim Jakob from Romania was named the most successful player of the youth championships with 2 gold and 1 silver medal; Elifnur Demir from Turkey was honored as the most successful U17 player 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 were acknowledged for their consistent participation in all U17 age group tournaments.
The closing ceremony featured notable guests including Nemanja Radović, Assistant Minister of Tourism; Aranka Binder, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth; Radomir Jovović, Chairman of BASS and BEC Board Member; Predrag Vuković, Founder and Board Member of BASS; and Predrag Marčetić, sponsor.
“We successfully gathered over 1,000 participants and nearly 450 players from 23 European countries. Despite one of the hottest weeks in a decade, we ensured excellent playing conditions and a vibrant atmosphere at Novi Sad’s ‘Slana Bara’ Sports Center. We are thrilled to break boundaries once again, proving Serbia as a sports powerhouse and an excellent host. The Serbian Youth Championships also served as a fantastic prelude to the upcoming U15 European Championships, with our duo Radovanović and Stevanović set to participate. The U17 Championships have achieved Grand Prix status, being among the best and largest youth tournaments in Europe, encouraging younger players to progress. Our athletes won five medals in such fierce competition—a significant achievement,” said Radomir Jovović, expressing gratitude to sponsors and supporters.
The Serbian U17 and Youth International Tournament is officially recognized as a significant event by the Republic of Serbia, the Vojvodina Autonomous Province, and the city of Novi Sad. Nemanja Radović highlighted that sports events, like culinary events, are key tourism drivers. He noted, “This sports event attracted a large number of foreign guests, with over 5,000 overnight stays in Novi Sad over the week.” Aranka Binder emphasized the long-term support for the tournament and added, “The Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth has supported this excellent event for many years. We are very satisfied with the cooperation and achievements of these young badminton players, as they need support the most.”
The traditional “Serbian U17 and Youth International Novi Sad 2024” tournament ranks among the top three European events in terms of participation, organizational standards, and athlete quality and is listed in the BEC official calendar. Domestic young badminton players have won hundreds of medals in international competitions, showcasing Serbia’s exceptional performance in this Olympic sport, which has rightfully become a national sports priority in recent years.
The tournament was organized by the Serbian Badminton Association, Vojvodina Badminton Association, and Novi Sad Badminton Club, with support from sponsors including Victor Sport, Beoexpo System, Tin Šped, Coca Cola HBC Serbia, Bambi, VBS Solutions, Jungman Travel, the Serbian Tourist Organization, the Vojvodina Tourist Organization, and the Novi Sad Tourist Organization.
