Tijana Bošković – revelation of World Championship U20

Tijana Bošković

With only 16 years of age and the power she has, she left many people breathless, not only in Serbia during her performances in the Super liga but also now in at the beginning of the FIVB World Championship U20 in Czech Republic.

Because of the fact that this is the first big event for Bošković, we asked her what it feels like to play in the World Championship and to be part of the team that will undoubtedly compete for high ranking:

“I am so excited that it all begun. We have great ambitions and frankly they were expected because we were well prepared. Personally, I’m happy to be here in Brno because this is my first competition in the jersey of Serbia, not counting qualifications in Subotica.“

Does the word “stage fright“ applies on you, because you are very young and you are the first opposite in the team?

“Of course I got nervous, I’m not exactly made of steel, but it’s all positive because I am more thrilled to perform than I am afraid of rivals or responsibility.“

Tijana says that she still does not have a feeling that everybody expect a lot from her.

“I play volleyball from the heart and I always try to give my best. I am happy when I play and when I am training well, so I do not bother with what others expecte from me. I was to some extent aware of what I did as a young girl at 16 years old, but still do not have the feeling that this is something big and important.“

Tijana is well known as a great self critisist.

“I think that I could always be better and that’s why I have never been completely satisfied. This attitude makes me want to work more on myself, although some have criticized me sometimes that I am exaggerating, but what can I do – It’s just me. Honestly, I think every athlete has that attitude, at least it’s normal for me, because it is the only way to improve youself.“

As most of the women players, Tijana wants to play in Italy one day.

“It is my wish to try myself in some Italian club in the begining and then, who knows, Turkey, Japan. But all this is still far away, I am young and tied with the long-term contract to Vizura. Anyway, I think I will improve a lot because I will work hard with coach Darko Zakoč.”

As a role model Tijana named Ivan Miljković, the best player in the last European Championship.

“Miljkovic has always been a complete player. I loved the way he went into every match, energy he owned and above all an attitude that he had in the field. When we talk about the women’s volleyball I do not have role models, but I like the character that Jovana Brakočević has.“

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