Dubrovnik and Metković Rule Croatian Handball
Young male and female handball players from Dubrovnik-Neretva County shone at the National Finals of the Plazma Youth Sports Games in Rijeka, securing their spot at the International Finals in Split.
Young male and female handball players from Dubrovnik-Neretva County shone at the National Finals of the Plazma Youth Sports Games in Rijeka, securing their spot at the International Finals in Split.
The handball courts at the National Finals of the Plazma Youth Sports Games in Rijeka were completely dominated by Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In the boys' competition, RK Ardiaei from Dubrovnik took the title, while in the girls' category, the handball players of ŽRK Metković came out on top, showcasing the dominance of southern Croatia in this sport.
ŽRK Metković secured the national championship title with the following lineup: Antea Kuran, Anamarija Volarević, Ana Kuran, Ema Delija, Petra Družijanić, Rea Erceg, Marta Bule, Cvita Bebić, Antea Šiljeg, Ana Klobučić, Lana Veraja, and Iva Erkapić, under the leadership of Rudolf Ćuzić.
RK Ardiaei, competing in the 2011 birth year and younger category, won gold with players: Mateo Puić, Martin Tane, Hrvoje Miujević, Noa Radić, Amar Avoić, Dominik Prlender, Ivan Prlender, Šimun Šandić, Mijo Raić, Ivan Prkačin, Marko Matušić, and Luka Regjo. The team was led by Antonio Lončarica.
With this success, both teams earned a place at the International Finals of the Plazma Youth Sports Games. The best young athletes from the region will gather in Split from August 17 to 22, 2026. There, they will face peers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia, with guest teams from Ukraine also competing outside the standings.
In addition to handball gold, Dubrovnik-Neretva County can boast other medals. The volleyball players of ŽOK Dubrovnik, led by team leader Marina Radić, won a bronze medal at the GEN-I Cup in the girls' 2011 birth year and younger category. At the 3x3 Sprite Cup, bronze went to Kromolački vitezovi from Dubrovnik, with players Mateo Matušić, Karlo Radić, Đuro Trojić, and Luka Vujčić, coached by Srećko Vujčić.
At the Coca-Cola Cup, the largest indoor soccer tournament in Europe, the women's team Ombla Dubrovnik will compete. Representatives in tennis, table tennis, and chess also competed in Rijeka, giving Dubrovnik-Neretva County a prominent role at this year's finals.
The National Finals in Rijeka brought together more than 2,500 children and young people from all over Croatia, competing in nine sports disciplines across ten locations throughout the city. In addition to the sports competitions, an interactive workshop called "Mental Hygiene" was organized for participants in collaboration with Wiener Insurance and the Brave Phone, focusing on young people's mental health. Many traveled to Rijeka on HŽ Passenger Transport trains, which provided free travel for children, and accommodation was arranged at the Trsat Student Village.
