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Alibasic named June’s Allianz Athlete of the Month
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Safet Alibasic has been named Allianz Athlete of the Month for June after helping his side to become world champions. 16 Jul 2014
Bosnia's men's sitting volleyball team followed up their London 2012 Paralympic title with a European title.
The sitting volleyball star received a staggering 62 per cent of the vote
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Safet Alibasic has been named the Allianz Athlete of the Month for June 2014.
The sitting volleyball star received a staggering 62 per cent of the vote after he helped his country win the 2014 World Paravolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships in Elblag, Poland.
Alibasic was influential throughout the competition and was crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
The Paralympic champions progressed from the group stage without dropping a single set, before beating Germany and Egypt in the quarter and semi-finals.
In the final, his team faced Brazil, the only other unbeaten side in tournament. Alibasic played a key role in the four set victory.
The triumph meant Bosnia and Herzegovina added the World title to the Paralympic gold they won at London 2012.
Alibasic won the vote ahead of Australia’s wheelchair rugby star Ryley Batt, who helped his side win the 2014 Canada Cup and Japan’s wheelchair tennis player Yui Kamiji, who won her first singles grand slam.
He also beat Canada’s wheelchair basketball athlete Janet McLachlan, who helped her country to become world champions, and Slovakian shooter Veronika Vadovicova, who claimed three gold medals at the IPC Shooting World Cup.
Alibasic has been a standout member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina sitting volleyball team for more than eight years.
A two-time Paralympian, Alibasic helped Bosnia win silver at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, when they lost to Iran in a tense final.
He then led them as they sought revenge four years later, defeating Iran on their way to their country’s only Paralympic gold medal of the London 2012 Games.
Since then, they have been able to carry on their momentum from London 2012, by winning the 2013 European Championships where Alibasic was also named best spiker.
Related Images
Ryley Batt
Japan's Yui Kamiji returns a shot during her women's wheelchair singles final match against Aniek Vanuatu Koot of Netherlands at Roland Garros in Paris, France
Double European champion Veronika Vadovicova is on the hunt for her her first world title at the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany, from 18-26 July.
Janet McLachlan takes a shot at the hoop during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where Canada finished sixth.