President Milanović Meets with Table Tennis Players of the “URIHO” Para Table Tennis Club
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today the players and the leadership of the “URIHO” Para Table Tennis Club, the oldest and largest sports clubs for persons with disabilities in Croatia having won the most trophies.
The president and at the same time player of the “URIHO” Para Table Tennis Club, Jadranka Blagus, acquainted President Milanović with the Club’s work and achievements. It is a Club for persons with disabilities that was founded in 2004 with the aim of promoting, developing and improving sports for persons with disabilities through table tennis. The Club has 75 registered male and female table tennis players with disabilities, and their membership also includes a dozen children with disabilities under the age of 16 who are already achieving impressive results and winning medals, it was said during the meeting.
Speaking about the results achieved by the players, it was noted that the Club has been at the top of table tennis for persons with disabilities in Croatia for years. The fact that the URIHO table tennis players have won the national table tennis title for persons with disabilities for the 21st straight year speaks for itself. One of the shortcomings faced by athletes with disabilities is the lack of sports halls in general, as well as those adapted for persons with disabilities.
In attendance at the meeting in the Office of the President of the Republic were table tennis players Helena Dretar Karić, who playing in pairs with Anđela Mužinić Vincetić, won multiple medals including medals at the Paralympic Games, World and European championships, Tomislav Špalj, Danijel Šetrajčić, Nino Baša, Nikola Horvan, Kristijan Vincek, Klea Bubalo, Vid Komar, Matija Kos, Petra Puljiz and Josipa Debanić.
Apart from representatives of the “URIHO” Para Table Tennis Club, the president and player Jadranka Blagus, Club secretaries Gordana Semper and coach Ivana Knežević Šambić, at the meeting in the Office of the President of the Republic were the director of the “URIHO” institution Sanja Major and assistant to the director Sonja Kovač.
Alongside President Milanović was the Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Tomislav Paškvalin.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas