Memorijal Branka Bošnjaka
136
Memorijali 1995. – 2015. Memorials 1995 – 2015
Glasnik Samobora i Svete Nedelje – 21st November 2008
Croatian athletes successful again On Saturday, 15th November, the 13th memorial competition in kyokushin karate, the Branko Bošnjak Memorial, was held in the organization of KC “Mladost” from Samobor and Special Police Unit “Alpha” Veterans Association. The opening ceremony was attended by representative of the Ministry of the Interior Tomislav Buterin, Head of Directorate for Sports in the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports Željko Klarić, Head of Directorate for Veterans in the Ministry of Family, Veterans’ Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity Zoran Komar, and on behalf of the City of Samobor Deputy Mayor Tomislav Masten. Around 90 competitors from 10 countries participated at this year’s Memorial. Despite the announcements, the competition went without the representatives of India, who had to cancel their arrival at the last minute, but the auditorium of the new sports hall near high schools, filled to its capacity, hasn’t remained deprived of a large number of the countries participating this year. Competitors from Australia, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania,
Rita Pivoriūnaitė (Litva/Lithuania) & Eszter Wágner (Mađarska/Hungary)
Switzerland and, of course, Croatia, gave their best and strongest performance. At this year’s competition, as in the previous years, the leading European countries in kyokushin karate presented their best fighters, of which we specially point out Marius Ilas (Romania) – multiple European champion, Sandor Bak (Hungary) – the current vicechampion of Europe, Edit Abraham (Hungary) – vice-champion of Europe, and the current vicechampion of the world and multiple European champion Donatas Imbras from Lithuania. This year’s tournament was held under the motto “Sport against addiction”, and the only addiction showed by the competitors was the one to kyokushin karate. The auditorium saw great fights, a lot of knockouts and excellent fighting techniques, as well as the demonstration by the Intervention Police Unit. All this was possible due to the very good organization of the competition. We must mention the performance of the world vicechampion Donatas Imbras, who thrilled the crowd and showed why he is one of the best fighters in the world. Upon completion of the com-
petition the awarding ceremony took place, and the Memorial was concluded at the Holiday Inn Hotel at the traditional Sayonara party. All the guests and competitors had only words of praise for the organizers and raising standards in the organization that will be hard to beat. Croatian competitors have won four medals at this year’s Memorial. Kristina Kojundžić from KC “Moslavina” from Kutina, who won the silver medal in the heavyweight (+65kg), climbed to the podium. This excellent result has even greater significance because Kristina has just this year become the senior competitor. Tihana Horkić from Samobor’s KC “Mladost” won the bronze medal in the women’s middleweight (-65kg), as well as her club colleagues Krunoslav Zlodi in the men’s heavyweight (-90kg) and Tihomir Garašić in the men’s super heavyweight (+90kg). Croatia was also represented by Damir Hodak (men -80kg), Dario Šančić (men -90 kg) and Goran Dekanić (men -90 kg), all members of Samobor’s KC “Mladost”. Competitors from KC “Mladost” have achieved excellent results and their efforts paid off. Ivica Horvat