SPORT / SPORTS
S he is Serbia’s best left back and a member of the nation- al handball team, as a girl who first played for the na- tional team when she was still in the pioneer category. She has since advanced effortlessly through all categories to reach the highest rank – by becoming a member of the sen- ior handball team of Serbia. She is now preparing to launch her internation- al club career. She is leaving her be- loved Železničar club to join Zagreb’s Lokomotiva, moving away from her na- tive Ruma for the first time. But Dun- ja Tabak insists that she’s ready for new challenges and emphasises that she can’t wait for the World Champi- onship and to continue meeting new people, cultures and countries. She is grateful for the opportunity to play the sport she loves, which allows her to do everything else… How did you fall in love with handball? “My mother always loved music, so she enrolled me in music school when I was just nine years old. I started tak- ing lessons at a music school, but that didn’t exactly make me the happiest girl. At that time, several of my dear friends started training handball at the sports hall in Ruma and invited me to join them. I first played in the position of goalkeeper and nothing was clear to me, but we had lots of fun. After a few meetings, the first coach in my hand- ball career, Dragan Vidović, approached me and said that he saw huge potential in me to become an excellent handball player. My mum realised that the most important thing for her is her child’s happiness, and I realised that I‘d al- ready fallen in love with handball.” What would be the thing you like most about the sport? “I was initially won over by all the wonderful socialising during train- ing, travelling to matches and tour- naments, and I gradually came to grasp the true beauty of the sport. Al- though everyone associates sports with health, apart from that I was also won over by the fact that in this won- derful sport you forge lifelong friend- ships and always meet wonderful, new
Trener iz Železničara Vlado Šimičić me je oblikovao u igračicu kakva sam danas My coach from Železničar, Vlado Šimičić, shaped me into the player I am today
do Šimičić, for this achievement - as he shaped me into the player I am to- day. I will always remember the years I spent at that club, because I practical- ly grew up there. They are my second family and I would like to take this op- portunity to thank them for everything they’ve done for me. Although I’m now leaving, this isn’t goodbye forever, be- cause I will always carry them in my heart.” What awaits you when it comes to the national team? “The World Championship will be played in the Netherlands and Germa- ny in late November 2025. The initial aim is to get through the group stage and then achieve the best possible fin- ish. If I receive an invitation, I will give my all for us to achieve our common goal: winning a world championship medal. Do you like to fly, what are your favourite destinations? “I became a world traveller by play- ing handball! I’ve toured many des- tinations and realised that I love to travel, and to go my own way. I like Spain the most for now, but we’ll see [laughs]. My heart certainly belongs to the whole world and is open to all new acquaintances, new cultures and new memories. I feel free, light and joy- ful every time the plane’s wheels leave the ground, because I feel like I’ve also gained wings.”
people, new cities, new countries, new cultures and create memories that will last a lifetime.” How did you feel when you were invited to join the national team? “The dream of every little girl who de- cides to pursue a career in any sport is to one day represent the colours of her flag and country in the best possi- ble light. When I received my first in- vitation to join the national team, I re- alised that my dream was slowly being realised. Every time I put on a shirt that has on it the coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia, and when I stand proudly in front of the flag of my coun- try and sing the national anthem, a special emotion arises in me that makes me feel strong, proud and grate- ful to have even been given the oppor- tunity to be able to experience such powerful and beautiful emotions.” What are your plans for the future; are you heading abroad? “I’ve just finished my last season at In- đija’s Železničar, and from there I’m de- parting to play abroad for the first time in my career. The team in question is Lokomotiva from Zagreb. There’s a nice pun in the names of these two clubs, right? I leave the Serbian hand- ball scene as the best left back of the Super Handball League, which was de- clared at the end of the play-off final. I can thank the professional guidance of my dear coach from Železničar, Vla-
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