BROD NATIVE RECEIVES MAJOR HONOR FROM PARTIZAN

Anastasija Mitrović, a talented karate athlete from Brod, has been awarded a prestigious annual prize from the renowned Belgrade-based sports society JSD Partizan, in celebration of its 80th anniversary.

During the grand ceremony held in Belgrade, a documentary was screened highlighting the rich history and development of Partizan. The event also served as an occasion to recognize the most successful teams and individuals of the past year.

Among the distinguished recipients was Brod’s own Anastasija Mitrović, honored for her impressive achievements — including winning the Golden Belt of Čačak, earning bronze at the Serbian Senior Championship, and claiming victory at the Serbian Cup.

The female karate team, comprised of Milosavljević, Mitrović, Perović, and Radović, was declared the best women’s team within the entire Partizan Sports Society.

"The emotions are still settling in," Mitrović shared. "It wasn’t until I watched the documentary and listened to legends of Yugoslav and Serbian sports like Predrag Mijatović, Ana Ivanović, and Igor Milanović — who probably doesn’t even know how many titles he has won in water polo — that I realized the true magnitude of Partizan. Just being present at such an event meant the world to me. But hearing my name called among the award recipients, and then moments later hearing Željko Obradović’s name… those are moments and emotions I will cherish for a lifetime."

Her journey to this recognition has been anything but ordinary.

"I live in Brod, which is a small town without a club that can offer proper training conditions," she explained. "So, every day I travel to Slavonski Brod in Croatia to train with their competitors. I compete in Serbia for Partizan and represent the Serbian national team. It’s all a bit strange — I live and study in Republika Srpska, I train in Croatia, and I fight for Serbia. Don’t try to make sense of it, I can’t either. But it’s the only way that works for me," said the successful karateka.

Mitrović’s dedication and perseverance are a testament to her passion and talent, and her latest recognition by one of the region’s most iconic sports institutions only solidifies her place among the brightest young athletes in the Balkans.