The Serbian youth water polo team (players under 16) won the silver medal at the Balkan Games in Thessaloniki, after being defeated by the Hungarian national team in the final with a score of 15:13 (2:3, 5:4, 4:4, 4:2).
Hungary opened the match better and took a 2:0 lead, but the Serbian water polo players quickly managed to establish a rhythm, turn the score around and gain a 3:2 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the second half, Serbia increased its lead to 4:2, but the Hungarians turned it around with a series of goals to make it 5:4. The Serbian team did not allow their rivals to break away in terms of score, quickly returning to the match, and the score was tied at halftime at 7:7.
The great fight continued in the third quarter. Serbia had a two-goal lead at one point (10:8), but Hungary managed to cancel out the deficit by the end of that period, so before the last quarter the score was tied again – 11:11.
The decisive quarter belonged to the Hungarians, who managed to make up the difference in the score and maintain the advantage until the end of the match to win 15:13 and win the title. Serbia finished the competition in Thessaloniki with a silver medal, confirming the quality and great potential of the generation, led by coach Vojislav Čupić, which showed a series of notable games during the tournament.
Serbia – Hungary 13:15 (3:2, 4:5, 4:4, 2:4)
SERBIA: Palezevic, Kreckovic 3, Jovanovic, Stanarevic 1, Jankovic, Frenc 2, Samardzic 2, Milutinovic, Lazic, Cubrilovic, Abadzic, Bursac, Milosevic, Lale 5.
HUNGARY: Barna, Nagy 2, Saka 5, Pap, Fabigny 1, Eger 2, Stogic 2, Becker, Masl, Frater 2, Saska, Parocai, Szatmary, Buda-Cilag 1.
