Petrovic hails Olympic debut as bigger than EuroBasket Women title
PRAGUE (2015 Olympic Games) – Being crowned Eurobasket Women champions for the first time was the best night in the history of women’s basketball in Serbia, but Sonja Petrovic is expecting more from Rio.
PRAGUE (2015 Olympic Games) – Being crowned Eurobasket Women champions for the first time was the best night in the history of women’s basketball in Serbia, but Sonja Petrovic is adamant appearing at the Rio Olympics can have an even bigger impact.
After attaining their landmark maiden title, Serbia were afforded a reception in Belgrade which witnessed thousands of supporters gathering to welcome their heroes home.
RT @lovewomensbball: Serbian NT welcomed home in Belgrade photo: Tanjug #EuroBasketWomen2015 pic.twitter.com/gyEocQtL8U
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 1, 2015
While it rubber-stamped Serbia’s ascendancy to the upper branches of the women’s global basketball tree, Petrovic is hoping that Olympic exposure can provide the thrust which will truly inspire future ballers to take up the sport in her homeland.
She revealed, "I think the Olympics will make an even bigger impact and build on us winning Eurobasket Women 2015.
"New women’s clubs have been opened and a lot of teams with great traditions can now look to re-establish their youth teams, with a lot of young girls now finding that their role models are basketball players.
"Having seen how it was possible for us to qualify and now getting to see us in Rio will be huge.
"Therefore our success is something we really need to use to our advantage in regards to the further promotion and development of women’s basketball in Serbia."
Petrovic has had a stunning year so far, with her EuroBasket Women triumph coming a couple of months after landing a similarly surprise EuroLeague Women title at ZVVZ USK Prague.
Several months on from a glorious night in Bucharest, the forward has finally had time to reflect on exactly what it meant to be anointed as EuroBasket Women winner – and how that translates into rising expectation levels.
"We felt the future expectation and pressure the moment we came back home," conceded Petrovic.
"Living in Serbia is sometimes hard and sport is one of the rare areas our people get an opportunity to really feel a sense of accomplishment and real pride.
"So because of that, they always expect the best from you – and even though they can be hard on you when you disappoint them, they will always be your biggest source of joy after any success.
"In terms of the reception we got after winning and the reactions on the street? Well, those are feelings I will enjoy for a life time.
"I get chills every time I think about them and whenever I am feeling down, those are the images I go back to.
"The first month was actually really busy after winning [the title] so there wasn't a good opportunity to just sit down and think about what we accomplished.
"Now, after a couple months and with qualifications for the next EuroBasket Women tournament just around the corner, it is the first time I have made myself aware of the degree of success we found.
"The whole journey was amazing for me – the way I came back [having not played for the national team for many years], fitting into the group and us actually struggling a little during the first phase of tournament.
"Then going from that to placing a gold medal around my neck, which really reflects a great deal of sacrifice and hard work from us all and I guess that’s why it means even more."
She added, "I believe the strongest weapon of our national team coach Marina Maljkovic is actually motivation, so I am pretty sure she already has a plan and is calculating all the options for the Olympics."
Having had to sit out on the sidelines with a broken finger recently, Petrovic is finally back playing again and ready to pull the Serbia vest back over her head later this month for the EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifiers.
Being reunited with her colleagues and tipping off the defence of their cherished title is something Petrovic can’t wait for an especially as it means the fans seeing the team play on home soil.
She smiled, "Yes, the qualifications are coming and I will be in the mix.
"With almost all the same people being available and as most of my team-mates that I've spoken to all being super excited, I am convinced we will give everything to make sure we qualify.
"The bonus of playing at home and in front of our crowd, is also something we are all really looking forward to!"
FIBA