The Balkan Championships 2026 opened on Friday in Koprivnica. Croatian representatives under 17, both men and women, won a total of nine medals: two gold, one silver and six bronze.
The most attention was drawn to Lara Blažeković, a member of the Hrvatski Podravka club. In the 49 kg category, she was trailing 7-4 with ten seconds remaining, but she overturned the result to claim gold.
Mia Kovač won in the 57 kg category, defeating her Turkish opponent in the final. Thus, Blažeković and Kovač became the Balkan champions among the young Croatian women.
In the men's division, Lovro Vidović won a silver medal in the 65 kg category. Bronze medals were awarded to Mihael Šarčević and Tomi Jelenc in the 80 kg category, and to Andrej Šušak in the 92 kg category. The men's team was led by coaches Eugen Jakovljević and Filip Koščić.
Among the women, Ina Rupčić Krizman, Lana Pezić and Asja Kojić won bronze in the 61 kg, 65 kg and 69 kg categories, respectively. The women's team was led by coaches Dinko Kremić and Laura Čičković.
The opening ceremony took place in the Josip Samaržija-Bepo hall. The event featured performances by three twirling clubs: the Twirling Club of Ludbreg, the Twirling Club of Donji Kraljevec, and the Twirling Club of Goričan.
The opening was attended by representatives of the local community and sports community. Speakers at the event included the president of the Croatian Wrestling Federation, Vladimir Bregović, the chairman of the organising committee and president of the Hrvatski Podravka club, Darko Tetec, the official delegate of the world wrestling federation, UWW, Ferenc Gyarmati, and the county prefect of Koprivnica-Križevci County, Tomislav Golubić. The championship was opened by the mayor of Koprivnica, Mišel Jakšić.
