National Olympic Committee of BIH, as a non-budget organization, awarded taekwondo athletes Marija Štetić and Nedžad Husić with 5.000 BAM individually, and their coaches with 2.000 BAM individually for winning silver medals at the recently held European Championship in Sofia.

With an extraordinary performance at the European Taekwondo Championships recently held in Sofia, Marija Štetić and Nedžad Husić won historic, first senior taekwondo silver medals for Bosnia and Herzegovina. On that occasion, the President of the NOV BIH Marijan Kvesić, the Vice Presidents of the NOC BIH Prof. Dr. Milanko Mučibabić and Prof. Dr. Izet Radjo, and the Secretary General of the NOC BIH Dr. sci. Said Fazlagić received a delegation from Taekwondo, President of the Taekwondo Federation of BIH August Orlović, member of the Executive Board of the Taekwondo Federation of BiH Samir Šarić, athletes Marija Štetić and Nedžad Husić, coach Lidija Katalinić-Špoljarić and coach of TKD Novi Grad Belmir Berberović.

On this occasion, the Presidency of NOC BIH awarded the athletes and coaches with a total amount of 14.000 BAM, and thus thanked our athletes and coaches for the top results and efforts they invest in these special times, when even the journey to the competition is a challenge. The silver medals of Marija and Nedžad are the first senior medals won from the European Taekwondo Championships for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as such have a special value.

When asked about the impressions of today's reception in NOC BIH, Marija said: "We are happy to have such a team and great support behind us and we hope to justify it, and I sincerely hope that the BiH Olympic Committee will continue to support us in the next Olympic cycle."

"Certainly the impressions are positive and the award that Marija and I received will help us in the further training process,"  said Nedzad Husic.

Both athletes pointed out that they will give their maximum in the next qualifying competition in May. They did not want to prejudge the possibility of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, but pointed out that they prefer their works and results to speak for them.

As it is known, since September 2020 Marija became the Olympic scholarship holder, and thus joined the team of 14 athletes who already enjoy the Olympic scholarship for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Nedzad's potential was recognized by the BiH Olympic Committee, and he was awarded the "Best Young Athlete in the Junior Category" at the "Athlete of the Year 2018" in the Organization of the BiH Olympic Committee.

It is also financially supported through the NOC NIH' Project "Road to Tokyo" in the amount of 5.500 BAM, in order to better prepare and try to achieve the Olympic norm.

"What impressed me the most in the Olympic Committee of BiH is a friendly and amicable atmosphere, I feel very comfortable here, and I can see from Maria that she feels the same way. I see that there are people here who recognize the sport and that is actually what athletes and coaches and everyone behind the athletes need. We all need material help, but the human component means the most," commented coach Lidija Katalinić-Špoljarić on the support of the BiH Olympic Committee.