“I think this [the centre] can help me with good sparring and really good facilities. All in all, I think this will be a great experience and I look forward to go and work with the rest of the players and coaches.” Đurkinjak says about joining the centre. “I really look forward to practice there!”

Zvonimir Đurkinjak plays for the club Medvedgrad 1998, while attending the Sports University in Zagreb. He will experience a training schedule very similar to what he is currently doing, only the difference will be the level of coaches and sparring from the players. 

“We are putting together a training schedule where the players will practice two times a day, “says Jeroen van Dijk, head coach of Centre of Excellence. “Zvonimir and the other players can expect high-performance training from me and the rest of the coaching team.”

At 10 years of age, Đurkinjak, fell in love with the sport, when the president of the local badminton club visited his primary school. Now, the main goal for the Croatian player is the Olympic Games in 2020. His minor goal has already been reached as he has qualified for the World Championships in Glasgow, this August. Now the short-term objective will be to improve his world ranking, currently at no. 102.

It is his belief that joining the centre is a step in the right direction for him, in terms of reaching his goals, and it is with great pride that we present him today as a part of the Centre of Excellence.