Member Associations | 21 Mar 2024

PUCAR and ARAPOVIĆ are chasing their third consecutive title in Vrsar

From Friday to Sunday, the town of Vrsar will once again be the center of Croatian senior table tennis. In the Saline hall, new champions of Croatia in individual competition will be sought, with Tomislav PUCAR and Hana ARAPOVIĆ defending their titles. Both have not relinquished the throne for two consecutive years and are the top favorites once again this year.

PUCAR is the highest-ranked Croatian table tennis player, but this year he will face an additional challenge. After two years of absence, Andrej GAĆINA will also compete. It has almost been a rule that when the man from Zadar plays, titles follow. Since the 2009/10 season, he has won every time he has competed, and in Vrsar, he will strive to capture his 12th title. Recently, he is certainly the Croatian record holder, and it will be difficult for anyone to catch up with him, even if they remain at their current levels.

The two of them met last time in the finals of the national competition in the 2020/21 season, and GAĆINA emerged victorious (4:2). It was questionable until the last moment whether PUCAR would compete, but fortunately, he is coming to Istria. And it is believable that it will be a final, especially considering that Filip ZELJKO, who has been the runner-up for the past two years, and Frane KOJIĆ will not be competing. In the last two championships, he returned from behind each time, last year saving a 1:3 deficit against ZELJKO, two years earlier trailing 2:3 in the final against the same opponent.

"We know each other too well, we practically grew up together. These are intense matches where the details decide. Since we often train together, it's hard to offer something new. We are used to each other's shots, serves... Right now, he is in good form, having defeated European champion Qiu Dang. It's the same with GAĆINA, whom I have lost to in several official matches, including 2-3 finals. We know each other in detail, there are no unknowns, and in such matches, mental strength is crucial. We often play each other in training, and it's about 50-50 there. But there's no need to rush; first, I need to reach the final and justify my status as the top seed," highlighted PUCAR."There are young lads who are looking for their chance. I may be the favorite, but they have nothing to lose. These are matches where maximum focus is required from the start, and they are pumped up as if there's no tomorrow. They let loose, have nothing to lose, and can be heroes. I have experience with such situations in foreign leagues where I play, and it can be challenging."

His biggest competition will come from young players like Ivor BAN and Borna PETEK. BAN has had a solid season in Austria, facing several good players and winning medals at European competitions for under 21s. He has been part of the senior national team for some time. PETEK is among the top players in the Super League, with a good sense of gameplay, and surely has something to prove. Last year, he won bronze, and there's no doubt that he aims for more. Additionally, players like Leon BENKO, who has a record of 21-5 this season in the Super League, Ivan HENCL, Luka ZLATKOV, Leo VEKIĆ, who had a season in Belgium behind him, are all contenders. Rino VIDAN was stopped in the quarterfinals last year after seven sets by Miha SIMOVIĆ, even though he was leading 3:1. All of them will be seeking their place in the sun, just like the older generations, where every point needs to be earned against them.

"I played an official match with PETEK once, and we trained together a bit, but less often because he's not with us frequently. BENKO and HENCL are always in the hall; whenever I come, they are there. Let them continue like that. BAN is talented, has a good serve, anticipation. He is certainly challenging, maybe even the trickiest of them all," concluded PUCAR.

In the women's competition, a similar situation is at play. The leading figure in the national championship is Hana ARAPOVIĆ, who is defending both the senior and young seniors titles. In Vrsar, she will not have her national team colleagues like Ivana MALOBABIC, Mateja JEGER MAJSTOROVIĆ, Lea RAKOVAC, and Petra PETEK, who will be in the hall after a long time as a coach or just a supporter, as well as Dorina SREBRNJAK.

The greatest competition for Hana could come from Ivana TUBIKANEC, with the two of them meeting in the finals last year that ended 4:2 in Hana's favor. Her motivation should never be doubted.

"Not all girls will be there because they have commitments to leagues and WTT tournaments, but still, there are TUBIKANEC, PAVLOVIĆ, JAZBEC, ĆOSIĆ, CAKOL, VUKELIĆ, REBIĆ... Some of them have already won, some are still aspiring. I don't know exactly who will be playing, so it's difficult to say more. I haven't played an official match with many of these girls for a while, so you never know what to expect. The Croatian championship is a tournament like any other at first glance, each match is a new story, not too different. But it's still somewhat special because it's a national event, all these girls are ones I have trained and played with for years... It has a special charm. Whatever I play, I want to win, and surely the same is true here," emphasized Hana ARAPOVIĆ, adding:"I have more experience now, although the other girls also have it. I won two titles last year, but it doesn't create additional pressure for me. It's not like I must do something. It's up to me to give my all, enjoy what I do. I don't want to make big plans."

Andrea PAVLOVIĆ will also be seeking an opportunity, having already been a national champion and enjoyed a solid season in Austria. Another contender is Ida JAZBEC, who has performed well in the Super League with a record of 17-5, maintaining TIS's position at the top alongside Marta VUKELIĆ. Klara CAKOL is making a comeback after a year away from the national scene. While talks about her potential return to the national team circle occasionally arise due to her undeniable talent, it remains to be seen if she can reach the podium, especially considering her quarterfinal appearance two years ago.

Additionally, there is a group of young national team players like Dora ĆOSIĆ, Bruna BOROVEC, Zrinka REBIĆ, Jelena VUKELIĆ, and others, as well as slightly younger players, for whom this competition is currently just an added bonus given their age. However, this doesn't mean they won't surprise anyone; they certainly possess plenty of motivation and potential to make an impact.