President Milanović Welcomes ISF WSC Handball Medal Winners from Ploče and Ivanić Grad
President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today received the girls’ handball team of the “Fra Andrija Kačić Miošić” High School from Ploče and the boys’ handball team of the “Ivan Švear” High School from Ivanić Grad on the occasion of winning the gold medal in the girls’ competition and the bronze medal in the boys’ competition at the ISF World School Handball Championship 2026.
The World School Handball Championship was held in Skopje, North Macedonia, from 20 to 29 April 2026 under the auspices of the International School Sports Federation. The Croatian national teams have achieved their greatest success so far in this competition. Both the boys’ and girls’ national teams are composed of high school pupils who are also the current national champions in school handball. This championship represents the highest level of school sports in the world. Representatives of the Croatian School Sports Federation pointed out that Croatia’s participation in the championship has confirmed the stable position of Croatian school sports in the international community for years, as teams from Croatia regularly compete in various sports.
Accompanied by the principal of the “Fra Andrija Kačić Miošić” High School from Ploče, Anela Barbir, and the handball manager and coach Ivan Žderić, were the gold medal winners Ena Barbir, Nora Barbir, Nika Batinić, Vanessa Bebić, Lora Ćulum, Ana Franić, Tina Gradac, Karla Herceg, Lana Ilić, Antea Jerković, Lucija Marinović, Nikolina Medak, Gabriela Ostojić, Mia Putica, Tina Ravlić, Nina Suljić, Vanja Špehar, and Saša Špehar.
From the “Ivan Švear” High School from Ivanić Grad, the principal Josipa Ilić, head and handball coach Antonijo Pokas, and the winners of the bronze medal in the boys’ competition Šandor Budemac, Luka Ozvačić, Šimun Bugarinović, Lovro Andruza, Nikola Dukarić, Timon Milčić, Ivan Pelko, Matija Kordelj, Adrian Duh, Vjekoslav Družinec, Karlo Kempf, Nicola Bobić, Andrija Hlad, David Vacek, Marko Ilić, and Jakov Vasiljević.
The delegation of the Croatian School Sports Federation comprised of the Secretary General Ivan Dujić, and Deputy Secretary General Nenad Žugaj. Accompanying President Milanović were the Adviser of the President for Education Jadranka Žarković, and the Commissioner of the President for Sports Tomislav Paškvalin.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić