Lekić and Ilić win 2012 awards in Serbia

Serbian handball enjoyed a year of unprecdented success in 2012 and the country’s handball federation (RSS) duly named the most outstanding individuals at a season-ending gala, attended by RSS president Velimir Marjanović as well as a myriad of players, referees and coaches.

Having endured a 10-year barren spell, the Serbian men’s team won their first medal as an independent nation on home court in January when they finished as the EHF EURO 2012 runners-up.

Captain Momir Ilić, who plays for European club champions THW Kiel,  was the pack leader in Serbia’s impressive run and he fully deserved the honour of being named the country’s top international player in 2012.

"I am overjoyed with winning the European Championship silver medal, it came as proof that Serbia has got talented athletes and I hope 2013 will be just as successful,“ Ilić said.

The women’s team entered their own EHF EURO 2012 tournament, also on home court, with modest ambitions of making the Main Round but a spirited challenge saw them break through to the semi-finals and they finished fourth behind medal winners Montenegro, Norway and Hungary.

Versatile back court player and captain Andrea Lekić stood out in the effort and was named the women’s top international in 2012 while Jovana Risović, the national team’s reserve goalkeeper who plays for Serbian side Maks Sport, won the best home-based player award.

"This is an incentive for a challenging year ahead of us and we will do our best to earn a podium finish in the 2013 Women’s World Championship, also to be held in Serbia,“ she said. "I wish to thank everyone who believed in us and supported us.“

Partizan Belgrade middle back Uroš Mitrović was named the best home-based men’s player while the team’s coach Aleksandar Brković won the elusive accolade of being Serbia’s top coach at all levels in 2012.

"This was the most successful year in the history of Serbian handball and and the success we enjoyed will be a foundation for the project of winning more medals in the upcoming events,“ RSS President Velimir Marjanović said in conclusion.