In a recent interview with Ukrainian sports outlet “Sport,” Zoran Gajić, Serbia’s Minister of Sport and former president of the Serbian Volleyball Federation, reflected on the performance of Serbian athletes at the Olympics and discussed the volleyball team’s results.
Serbia’s men’s volleyball team was eliminated after the group stage, while the women’s team reached the quarterfinals. Gajić acknowledged the challenges faced by the men’s team, noting the transition period as key players like Marko Podraščanin and Aleksandar Atanasijević retired. He expressed satisfaction with their Olympic qualification despite missing the chance to advance further.
On the women’s side, despite high expectations for a medal, the team finished in the quarterfinals. Gajić attributed their underperformance to several factors, including frequent travels during the Nations League and strategic decisions by the coaching staff. “Our women’s team, led by Tijana Bošković, faced challenges. Frequent traveling disrupted their rhythm, and strategic decisions by the coaching staff, including extended breaks for some players, impacted their performance. They played strongly in the first set of the quarterfinals but fell short in the end. The exact reasons for this will be reviewed by the expert committee of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia,” he explained.
The future of Serbian volleyball coaching remains uncertain, with speculation about Giovanni Guidetti’s potential departure and whether French coach Stéphane Antiga might succeed him. Gajić’s role as Minister of Sport continues to influence Serbian volleyball, and further developments are anticipated.
