ŽDRALE: I DEDICATE MY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL TO THE PEOPLE OF SRPSKA AND SERBIA

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 9 /SRNA/ – Serbia's national judo team member Lazar Ždrale, originally from Istočno Sarajevo, told SRNA that he dedicates his bronze medal from the Junior World Championship to all the people in Republika Srpska and Serbia.

Ždrale says he is proud of his achievement, noting that the World Championship was demanding, as he had five matches in a single day.

"I achieved four victories and one loss. In the first match, I defeated the representative of Saudi Arabia by ippon, and in the second, the Estonian who is the current European vice-champion," Ždrale said.

He added that the quarterfinal match was the easiest, as he defeated the Georgian competitor in just 50 seconds.

In the semifinal, Ždrale was unlucky, losing to a Japanese judoka in overtime by a golden score.

In the bronze medal match, Ždrale beat the Russian competitor.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who believed in me – the Red Star Judo Club from Belgrade and Randori Judo Club from Istočno Sarajevo, where I began practicing judo. I also thank all the people from Republika Srpska and Serbia," Ždrale said.

His next competition will be the Grand Prix in Lima.

Yesterday, under the guidance of coach Ljubiša Majdov, Ždrale won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championship in Peru.

By winning a medal at the World Championship in Lima, Ždrale has crowned an excellent season.