The Croatian Championship for young seniors in Vrsar was dominated by Leon BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) and Dora ĆOSIĆ (Mladost), who both claimed gold in every possible category – singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
In the men’s singles final, a club showdown from GSTK Zagreb unfolded between Leon BENKO and Ivan HENCL. The two had already secured the gold medal in doubles earlier, and the singles match followed.
“Great tournament for me. Before the tournament I only knew we were favorites in doubles, but it turned out great in all three categories,” said Leon BENKO.
“We’re currently ranked third in the world, so winning the doubles was expected. We had some struggles in the second set of the final against Lozušić and Zlatkov, that’s where the match was decided, but we managed to push through and win in the end. In singles, I was surprised by how Benko played- he didn’t miss a single ball” said HENCL.
In the women’s Under 21 event, Dora ĆOSIĆ (Mladost) dominated the competition. She won her first two qualification matches after five sets, against Jelena VUKELIĆ (Varaždin) and Larisa PUTIGNO (Pula), before securing straightforward victories over Franka MIŠKIĆ (Zagreb) and Victoria PUSTAJ (Mladost) without losing a set.
“Although I knew I was the favorite, I didn’t have any big expectations. I took it match by match and let’s see what happens. For doubles, I decided to play with my friend Dora. We used to play together when we were younger, and we always had great chemistry. In the end, everything turned out perfectly,” said the three-time gold medalist ĆOSIĆ.
The championship was marked by the dominance of GSTK Zagreb’s table tennis players, who claimed eight medals, including three golds, while Mladost’s players won seven medals, with three golds. The awards were presented to the winners by Dragan KNEŽEVIĆ, vice president of HSTS, and Miodrag BANJAC, president of STK Vrsar and co-organizer of the Croatian Championship.
Singles
Under 21 Men
Semifinals: BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – LOZUŠIĆ (GSTK Zagreb) 4:0 (11, 8, 3, 4), HENCL (GSTK Zagreb) – PETEK (STK Zagreb) 4:1 (-9, 2, 6, 4, 2); final: BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – HENCL (GSTK Zagreb) 4:1 (5, 3, 7, -10, 8)
Under 21 Women
Semifinals: ĆOSIĆ (Mladost) – MIŠKIĆ (Zagreb) 4:0 (9, 6, 4, 9), GOJKOVIĆ (Mladost) – PUSTAJ (Mladost) 0:4 (-5, -3, -6, -9); Final: ćosić (Mladost) – Pustaj (Mladost) 4:0 (5, 10, 3, 9)
Doubles
Semiifinals: HENCL/BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – PETEK/MARJANOVIĆ (STK Zagreb) 3:0 (8, 5, 7), ISLAMOVIĆ/ZORIĆ (GSTK Zagreb) – ZLATKOV/LOZUŠIĆ (STK Zagreb/GSTK Zagreb) 0:3 (-6, -9, -9); Final: HENCL/BENKO (GSTK Zagreb) – ZLATKOV/LOZUŠIĆ (STK Zagreb/GSTK Zagreb) 3:0 (6, 14, 8)
Semifinals: GOJKOVIĆ/PUSTAJ (Mladost) – BASANIĆ/PUTIGNA (Pula) 3:1 (6, -4, 10, 4), MIŠKIĆ/BENKO (STK Zagreb) – POPEC/ĆOSIĆ (Jadran/Mladost) 1:3 (-5, 7, -3, -9); Finals: GOJKOVIĆ/PUSTAJ (Mladost) – popec/Ćosić (Jadran/Mladost) 2:3 (8, -8, 9, -7, -8)
Mixed doubles
Semifinals: BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – ZLATKOV/BENKO (STK Zagreb) 3:2 (6, -8, -9, 9, 4), LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – PETEK/MIŠKIĆ (STK Zagreb) 3:1 (10, -7, 10, 4); Final: BENKO/ĆOSIĆ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) – LOZUŠIĆ/PUSTAJ (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost) 3:0 (15, 10, 6)
Singles
Under 21 Men
- 1. Leon Benko (GSTK Zagreb)
- 2. Ivan Hencl (GSTK Zagreb)
- 3. Borna Petek (STK Zagreb)
- 3. Luka Lozušić (GSTK Zagreb)
Under 21 Women
- 1. Dora Ćosić (Mladost)
- 2. Victoria Pustaj (Mladost)
- 3. Franka Miškić (Zagreb)
- 3. Neva Gojković (Mladost)
Doubles Men
- 1. Hencl/Benko (GSTK Zagreb)
- 2. Zlatkov/Lozušić (STK Zagreb/GSTK Zagreb)
- 3. Petek/Marjanović (STK Zagreb)
- 4. Islamović/Zorić (GSTK Zagreb)
Women
- 1. Popec/Ćosić (Jadran/Mladost)
- 2. Gojković/Pustaj (Mladost)
- 3. Basanić/Putigna (Pula)
- 3. Miškić/Benko (STK Zagreb)
Mix doubles
- 1. Benko/Ćosić (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost)
- 2. Lozušić/Pustaj (GSTK Zagreb/Mladost)
- 3. Zlatkov/Benko (STK Zagreb)
- 3. Petek/Miškić (STK Zagreb)
