The SERTINI OPEN 4 tournament, held in Doboj, once again showed that badminton in Bosnia and Herzegovina is entering a new phase of development, both in terms of sport, organization and inclusion. More than just a tournament, this event represented a combination of sport, togetherness, youth, inclusion and serious steps towards the future of badminton in BiH.
The competition was held at two locations — at the Elementary School “Vuk Stefanović Karadžić” and the Secondary Medical School Doboj — with the support of the City of Doboj, partners, sponsors and a large number of friends of the sport. The organization of the event, the atmosphere, the facilities for the participants, as well as the recognizable raffle with valuable prizes, once again confirmed that SERTINI OPEN has become one of the most recognizable badminton events in the region.
The tournament was given a special emotion by young athletes with developmental disabilities, who are an important part of the story of the Badminton Club Sertini Doboj under the slogan “NO DIFFERENCE”. For the first time, two young players with disabilities also competed in the older beginners category, who played excellent matches and showed how sport can be a powerful tool for inclusion, self-confidence and equal opportunities for all.
One of the most important moments for the development of this sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the fact that badminton has officially become part of the Special Olympics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This opens the possibility for Bosnia and Herzegovina to prepare its badminton representatives for the 2027 Special Olympics in Chile, which represents a historic step forward for this sport and inclusive programs in the country.
At the same time, badminton was included for the first time as a school sport within the Small Olympic Games of the Republic of Srpska, which represents a huge step for the development of school and youth sports. Members of the Badminton Club Sertini Doboj also achieved notable results at that competition. Jovan Đukanović won the gold medal and cup, while Sara Vidaković won the silver medal in the older girls’ category.
An important segment of the development of badminton in the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina is the process of establishing the Badminton Association of the Republika Srpska, whose headquarters will be located in Doboj. At the founding assembly held in Doboj, Dario Milačak was unanimously elected president of the Association. The formation of the Association represents a significant organizational step that should further improve the competition system, work with youth, club development and international cooperation in the coming period.
In addition to organizational progress, the performances of young badminton players from BiH on the international stage are attracting increasing attention. Competitors from Doboj and other cities in Republika Srpska are already competing in prestigious international tournaments from the BWF International Series, where they gain valuable experience and represent Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European and world badminton scene.
All of the above shows that badminton in Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer a sport of the future, but a sport of the present, which year after year attracts an increasing number of children, young people, recreational players and professional athletes. Thanks to the work of sports enthusiasts, clubs, institutions and partners, Doboj is increasingly positioning itself as one of the key centers of badminton development in the region.
