04.02.2022.

Awards for best athletes in Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, presented awards to the best military athlete in 2021, Olympic karate champion Jovana Preković, and the best sports team, the Military Police team who won the international "Guardian of Order" competition. The award ceremony was held in the Old General Staff’s Great War Hall.

Along with this year’s laureates, military athletes Tijana Bogdanović, Aleksandar Kukolj, Nevena Jovanović, Anja Obradović, Jasmina Milovanović and Luka Milošević received awards for their contribution to building the reputation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces in the world through outstanding sports achievements over the past year.

Minister Stefanović thanked the athletes for everything they did last year and in their entire careers.

– What you did in 2021 will, of course, go down in history because you represented the Serbian Armed Forces, our Ministry and Serbia in an honourable and dignified way. I am glad that we have continued the tradition of organizing an award ceremony for the best athletes and the best teams this year as well - said Stefanović.

He said that our people were proud of our military athletes’ success and expressed hope that they would inspire some new young people to become champions.

– Last year, Jovana made us extremely happy. She won a gold medal and it will go down in history that the first gold medal in this discipline in the history of the Olympic Games was won by a girl who came from Serbia, from our Ministry and we are particularly proud of that - said the Minister and also referred to Tijana Bogdanović who had won the bronze medal in taekwondo at the Olympics.

According to Stefanović, Tijana's fight was the most dramatic one he has ever seen. He told other athletes who competed at the Olympics that even if they sometimes do not win a medal, everyone in the Ministry of Defence appreciates their achievements and everything they do for Serbia.

– Frankly, for me, it is as if you all won medals for our country. Of course, I am sure that you will have more opportunities in your careers to compete in the Olympic Games and achieve great results - the Minister emphasized.

Speaking about the achievements of Captain I Class Nevena Jovanović, the Minister said that it was difficult to enumerate them all.

– From the Belgrade Marathon, where she was the first to cross the finish line to all her other races and victories. In addition to devoting a lot of time to sports and competitions, she performs her duties in the "Kobre" Military Police Detachment just like any other member and does not neglect her officer duties - said Stefanović.

Commenting on Luka Milošević, a Secondary Vocational Military School student who competes in shooting, the Minister described his achievements as impressive.

– I believe that you have a brilliant career ahead of you and if the Ministry can do anything to help, we are there for you, because I would like you to become a great champion, for yourself primarily, and of course for Serbia - the Minister emphasized.

Presenting the trophy to Major Radovan Marinković and congratulating him on the Military Police team’s success at the prestigious "Guardian of Order" competition, Stefanović emphasized that by winning in that discipline at the International Army Games, those guys showed that they were serious competitors and that they had put a great deal of effort into beating all other teams.

- That is a really prestigious competition and to be the first in any discipline is supreme achievement. I watched some phases of the competition and saw how well-prepared these military policemen were and how fiercely they fought for their country - the Minister said.

According to him, the military athletes he had the opportunity to meet are modest and hard-working people, devoted to training and the activities in their units.

- You are the pride of Serbia. I expect you to continue to fight with such dedication and to step up the pace, if possible, in the years to come. Bringing two Olympic medals to Serbia is quite something, but winning so many medals annually, that people may not know about because they do not follow sports avidly, is exceptional - the Minister pointed out.

The fact that military athletes never give up, he said, is an important message for all young people.

- Your example shows us that hard work is always followed by success. Thank you once again for everything you have done, thank you for the great effort you are making for our country as well - said Stefanović adding that he and the Ministry will always be there to help them achieve the best possible results.

Congratulating the award winners, the head of delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM, Colonel Milivoje Pajović, PhD, said that they set an example to younger generations, celebrating hard work, healthy lifestyle, desire for continuous improvement and love for Serbia.

- Today's award winners show that the difference between the possible and the impossible in sports lies in their determination, self-sacrifice and hard work. They tell us that victory itself is not always the goal, but the desire to win is - said Pajović.

Jovana Preković, a member of the Military Academy’s Sports Unit, was declared the most successful athlete in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces in 2021. Last year, Jovana Preković won two gold medals at the Karate Premier League competitions, in Istanbul and Lisbon, and she confirmed her supremacy at the European Senior Karate Championship in Poreč.

Thanks to her achievements, Jovana Preković became a member of the Serbian Olympic team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she won a gold medal at the largest sporting event on the planet.

Only three months later, she defended her 2018 champion title in the - 61 kg category, at the Senior World Championship in Dubai. In addition to all her work, preparations and competitions, Jovana Preković is actively involved in the sports section, working with Military Academy cadets.

- Being a member of the Serbian Armed Forces’ sports unit is very important to me, and the award I have received is proof that I and other athletes enjoy great support of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. I am very happy because of that, said Jovana Preković, who must now focus on completing her studies, in addition to her sports career.

The best sports team title was awarded to the Serbian Armed Forces Military Police team.

In 2021, the SAF Military Police team won a gold medal in the "Guardian of Order" discipline at the International Army Games. The International Army Games organized by the Russian Armed Forces as a prestigious military skills competition, take place every year with contestants from more than 50 countries and four continents competing in over 30 demanding military disciplines. After four days of fierce shooting and obstacle course competitions, the SAF Military Police team triumphed, defeating colleagues from the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Iran, Cyprus and Qatar.

In addition to this year’s laureates, athletes who achieved exceptional results over the past year received awards for contribution to building the reputation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces in the world through outstanding sports achievements. Among them are members of the Military Academy’s Sports Unit, members of the Serbian Olympic team - taekwondo player Tijana Bogdanović, the Tokyo bronze medallist, judoka Aleksandar Kukolj, the World Championship runner-up, judoka Anja Obradović, the World Championship bronze medallist and Jasmina Milovanović, a shooting team member.

Awards were also presented to Captain I Class Nevena Jovanović, the winner of the 34th Belgrade Marathon and the winner of 30 medals at national athletic championships, competitions and races in the Republic of Serbia and Luka Milošević, a Secondary Vocational Military School student and the most successful young athlete in the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces – cadet who holds the national shooting record and has won 30 medals at the official competitions of the Shooting Association of Serbia in 2021.