The national finals of the 30th season of the Plazma Youth Sports Games brought thrilling matches and an unforgettable experience for the youngest competitors, who played their final matches at the renowned ATP stadium.
The tennis tournament of the jubilee 30th season of the Plazma Youth Sports Games concluded at a special venue. After the group stage matches at the Kvarner Tennis Club in Rijeka, the finals in all categories were played at the Goran Ivanišević Stadium in Umag, the usual host of the ATP Croatia Open.
The exciting matches were full of emotions, from tears after lost points to genuine smiles and friendly hugs at the end. Medals were presented to the most successful players by Tomislav Poljak, tournament director of the ATP 250 Croatia Open Umag, who did not hide his enthusiasm for the project.
In the youngest category, the orange group for children born in 2017 and younger, Iva Petrić from Varaždin triumphed among the girls. Second place went to Nasja Častek from Virovitica, while Ana Jurić from Zagreb took third. Among the boys, Pjero Arneić from Split won gold, Marian Anthony Kocković from Dubrovnik took silver, and Massimo Petretti from Umag earned bronze.
"I was a bit upset at the beginning, but in the end I still won. I knew it was my match and I had a great time. The final was especially special to me because it was played on the court where great tennis players have played," said Iva Petrić, the winner in the girls' category.
In the green group (2016 and younger), Leona Margetić from Zagreb took first place among the girls, ahead of Antea Matić (Zagreb) and Zara Taktacs from Donji Miholjac. Among the boys, the entire podium was claimed by Zagreb: gold for Jonah Petrović, silver for Emanuel Mostarac, and bronze for Dorijan Jercog from Umag.
In the older, yellow group (2012 and younger), Lena Fonai from Donji Miholjac won among the girls, followed by Una Prgomet from Trogir in second and Sara Hojsak from Virovitica in third. Among the boys, Pavo Zoričić from Zagreb was the most successful, defeating Ivan Pavao Jurić (Zagreb) in the final, while Mijo Markovica from Virovitica took third.
"The tournament was really good, and I'm satisfied with my game. The final was quite tough; my opponent was much taller than me, but in the end I'm happy I won. Playing in Umag was a special feeling, and I'm glad they allowed us to play the final here," said Pavo Zoričić, the winner in the yellow group.
Tomislav Poljak, tournament director of the ATP event in Umag, emphasized the importance of such initiatives for the development of sports and children. "It's wonderful to see the tennis center in Umag alive beyond the ATP, especially with a project like the Plazma Youth Sports Games. We are happy and proud to host these young tennis players for a day," said Poljak.
He also highlighted the broader significance of the Games: "I must stress that the Youth Sports Games project is truly special; with so many participants, I believe this project can serve as a model for all of us involved in sports and event organization. The smile on every child's face shows how valuable this project is. My message to the children: play sports, enjoy what you do, and to parents: support them in that."
In addition to the sports competitions, the national finals program included an interactive workshop called Mental Hygiene, organized in cooperation with Wiener Insurance and the Brave Phone. The workshop focused on raising awareness about the importance of mental health care for children and young people, teaching them through conversation and practical activities about recognizing and expressing emotions and developing healthy habits.
A large number of participants traveled to Rijeka by trains of HŽ Passenger Transport, a long-time partner of the Games, which provides free travel for children. During their stay, they were accommodated at the Trsat Student Campus, and the competitions took place at ten locations across Rijeka. The most successful individuals and teams earned a spot at the International Finals of the Plazma Youth Sports Games, which will be held in Split from August 17 to 22, 2026.
