The Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports extends its heartfelt congratulations to Bosnian jiu-jitsu athlete Mahir Zuka for his remarkable achievement in winning a gold medal at the IBJJF European Championship in the black belt “no-gi” (without kimono) category, held in Rome.

At this prestigious international competition, Zuka claimed the gold medal after four impressive victories against exceptionally strong opponents. In the early rounds, he defeated fighters from Bulgaria, England, and Germany, and in the final match, he overcame a favored Brazilian competitor with an impressive arm triangle submission, earning the title of European champion in the ultra-heavyweight division.

The IBJJF European Championship is not limited to athletes from the European continent, which makes Zuka’s success even more significant given the presence of top-tier fighters from around the world.

This outstanding result adds to a series of international successes Zuka has achieved throughout the year, including gold medals at the IBJJF Turin Open, Rome Open, and the Asian Championship in Japan. Thanks to these accomplishments, Zuka became the first athlete from Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the qualification standards for the IBJJF World Championship in the adult black belt category, which will be held next year.

The Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports expresses pride and gratitude to Mahir Zuka for his exceptional sporting achievement and his contribution to promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international sports stage. Such results serve as a powerful incentive for the development of martial arts in our country and as an inspiration for young athletes to follow the example of our most successful representatives.

Congratulations on winning the gold medal, and we wish you continued success in future competitions.