Ejla Makaš: Representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the European Youth Games and Beyond

In the third episode of Buzzer Talks, host Ahmed Vila sat down with promising taekwondo athlete Ejla Makaš, who is set to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina and her club at the upcoming European Youth Games. The conversation offered a deep dive into Ejla’s rigorous training, career aspirations, and the challenges faced by athletes in her country.

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Intense Training Regimen

Ejla shared that her preparation for the European Youth Games is both intensive and demanding. She trains twice a day, focusing on different aspects of her performance. Her morning sessions emphasize explosiveness and strength, guided by trainer Emir Kanjanac, while her afternoon sessions focus on taekwondo techniques and sparring, led by her main coach, Haris Husić, who is also a national team coach for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite a minor injury, Ejla remains confident about her readiness for the tournament. She explained that she’s taking precautions to avoid giving any advantage to competitors while ensuring she will be fully recovered in time for the event.

“I currently have a small injury, nothing serious, and it will be fully healed before the competition,” Ejla stated.

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High Aspirations and International Experience

Ejla comes from a family of accomplished athletes, with her sister competing at the senior level. She shared her expectations for the upcoming tournament and future events:

“I expect to win a medal at this tournament because it’s important for the Youth Olympics. I’m still young, and there is a lot of time until the real Olympics. If all goes well, my sister may qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”

In addition to the Youth Games, Ejla recently qualified for the World Senior Taekwondo Championships in China, highlighting her rapid rise in the sport.

She also discussed the limited number of athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina who have medaled in such competitions, noting the importance of representing her country internationally:

“It’s really beautiful to represent my country. Each athlete becomes an ambassador, and I’m proud to show the world what Bosnia and Herzegovina can achieve in taekwondo.”

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Sparring and Injury Management

Ejla emphasized the importance of controlled sparring sessions to reduce injury risk while maintaining competitive readiness.

“We spar about three times a week. If we did it every day, injuries would be inevitable. In addition to sparring, we practice combinations to simulate actual fight situations.”

She often trains with her sister as a sparring partner, which she says helps both of them improve and achieve better results. She also mentioned Nedžad Husić, another top athlete who recently recovered from a serious injury and is expected to compete in the World Championships in China.

Challenges of Financial Support in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ejla shed light on the financial challenges faced by athletes in her country, particularly for a sport like taekwondo where competition costs can be high.

“Without financial support, attending tournaments is very difficult. Even smaller competitions cost around 500 BAM. Funding from the Taekwondo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been essential, but more investment is needed to achieve top results.”

She highlighted a systemic issue where athletes often have to deliver results before receiving financial backing, creating a challenging cycle for developing sports talent.

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Conclusion

Ejla Makaš’s dedication, resilience, and skill make her a standout athlete in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her journey from intensive daily training to representing her country internationally serves as an inspiration to young athletes in the region. The upcoming European Youth Games and World Senior Championships in China will be crucial milestones in her career, and Buzzer Talks is proud to highlight her achievements and ambitions.

“Every athlete is an ambassador for their country. I’m proud to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina and show that success is possible with dedication and support,” she concluded.