From August 3 to 15 this year, Boxing Club Slavija will host the European Cadet Championship, which is expected to feature between 500 and 600 competitors from 36 countries.
Nenad Borovčanin, President of the Serbia Boxing Federation and a member of the Board of Directors of the European Boxing Confederation, who was once a member of Slavija himself, emphasized that this event will be a great opportunity to promote Banja Luka and Republika Srpska.
“The Championship of the Old Continent will be a major sporting event, which will not only promote boxing but also provide an opportunity for Slavija to reclaim its place at the top. I am glad that the organization of this competition has also involved the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, who has taken on the role of head of the Organizing Committee not only for this championship but also for the play-offs of the Serbia Boxing League in mid-June,” Borovčanin highlighted.
Kiril Šebutev, General Secretary of the European Boxing Confederation, who visited Banja Luka and the “Borik” arena with Borovčanin in recent days, expressed his satisfaction with what he saw and expects the host to meet the standards for organizing such a significant event.
“This is my first time in Banja Luka, and I am aware that this has always been a city of boxing and great champions. I am very pleased with what I have seen and am confident that the competition will proceed smoothly and that it will be an opportunity to promote Republika Srpska not only in sports,” said Šebutev.
Dalibor Petković, President of Slavija, stated that securing the organization of the European Championship for cadets is the culmination of the efforts made in the storied Banja Luka club over the past two years.
“Organizing this event will undoubtedly be a significant challenge for all of us, and it is good that the play-offs of the Serbian Boxing League will serve as a good general rehearsal. We are happy that the very top of Republika Srpska, led by President Dodik, has joined the organization, and I am confident it will be an event to remember,” Petković emphasized.
Boxing Club Slavija will also host the play-offs of the Serbia League, which will take place from June 14 to 16.
“We expect this to be a true prelude to the European Championship and an opportunity to bring the title back to Banja Luka after 50 years, when we were the champions of Yugoslavia,” said Slavija’s director Igor Savičić.
Source: Glas Srpske
