28.12.2019
Lance Corporal Đuro Borbelj the Best Athlete of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces in 2019
Lance Corporal Đuro Borbelj from the First Army Brigade is this year’s winner of the Reward for the Best Athlete of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, which is awarded by the Olympic Committee of Serbia.
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin presented this prestigious sport recognition to Lance Corporal Borbelj at a celebration of the Serbian Olympic Committee held this evening in the House of National Assembly, on the occasion of the 26th proclamation of the best athlete, teams and coaches in 2019.
Lance Corporal Borbelj underscored that the received recognition was a great satisfaction and motive for further development, stating that he had been doing sports in the armed forces for six years, and that after four years, serious results had ensued.
- This is one of the greater recognitions for me and a great satisfaction for further success and development. I would single out my first marathon, which I ran in China, where I set a record of the Serbian Armed Forces. Subconsciously I knew that it would be a very good race and I ran smartly, since marathon has to be run by one’s head, not the legs - Lance Corporal Borbelj reminisced and stated that the sport in the armed forces was important for him both in his professional and private life.
Lance Corporal Đuro Borbelj was born on 16th May 1995, and he started his professional military service in 2016. He is a bridge operator in the 18th Engineering Battalion of the First Army Brigade. He is a member of Athletics Club in Apatin, and as an active athlete he competes for the national team of Serbia and national team of the Serbian Armed Forces. He has achieved notable results in a short period of time. He participated in several competitions in Serbia and abroad and won four first places, two second and three third places. At the Seventh World Military Games, held in October 2019 in Chinese town Wuhan, he achieved the result in marathon event of 2 hours 29 minutes and 23 seconds thus setting a new record of the Serbian Armed Forces in that event.
Along with congratulations to the athletes on the results achieved this year, President of the Serbian Olympic Committee Božidar Maljković stated that the recognitions to this year’s laureates had been awarded not on the basis of affinities for them, but on the basis of clearly defined criteria and successes which they had achieved.
The president of the Serbian Olympic Committee especially thanked President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
- My colleague, the “Partizan” coach, Trinkirieri, said “Lucky you when you have such president - Vučić, who is a great athlete, and when you have Olympic qualifications in Serbia. That is a great thing.” I am witness that Trinkirieri’s words are true. I do not understand the politics, but I know quite a bit about sports and athletes. President Aleksandar Vučić had, on many occasions, took over a heavy burden upon himself to save the situation when it came to our sports. I avail myself of this ceremonial activity to thank both to him personally, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which, like no Government before it, understood the requirements of our Olympians.
Maljković stressed that he was honoured, as a son of a servicemen, that the cooperation between the Serbian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces was institutionalised and successful.
- Our Olympians have already been the part of our defence system, and exchange of experience of supreme athletes and young people that guarantee our freedom is to the mutual benefit. The Olympic Committee is grateful to Minister Vulin and the friends of the armed forces for the cooperation - Maljković said and reminded that the Olympic movement in Serbia had been founded by no other than officers led by General Đukić.
Recognition for the most successful female athlete of Serbia in 2019 was received by volleyball player Tijana Bošković, while the most successful athlete, for the eighth time in a row, is the tennis player Novak Đoković.
Female volleyball national team, which defended this year the title of European champion and by winning the first place at qualification tournament for the Olympic games in Wroclaw, qualified for the Olympic games in Tokyo, was this year as well proclaimed the most successful female team of Serbia. The title of the best Serbian male team, also went to volleyball national team, the winner of the gold at this year’s European Championship.
According to the assessment of the Olympic Committee the most successful young female athlete of Serbia is a martial artist Ivana Perović, and the most successful coach is Slobodan Kovač.
This year, the “Olympic Heart” trophy, which is awarded for special achievements and strengthening of the Olympic movement, was presented to the President of European Volleyball Confederation Aleksandar Boričić.
The proclamation of the best athletes held in the House of National Assembly was also attended by Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Major General Petar Cvetković, Head of the Military Academy Major General Bojan Zrnić and Head of Serbian Delegation to CISM Brigadier General Siniša Radović, representatives of the Ministry of the Youth and Sports, Serbian Olympic Committee, male and female athletes and numerous sport fans.
