In this month’s interview, we present Irhad Džafić, a Hastor Foundation scholarship recipient and young athlete who, through shooting sports, has found a space for personal development, discipline, and community. Irhad is a first-year student of English Language and Literature at the International University of Sarajevo and has been actively training with the “Strijelac” Shooting Club from Busovača for a year and a half. Through our conversation, he revealed how he came to love this sport, what motivates him to persevere, and how he manages to balance university obligations with demanding training sessions and competitions.
- How did you decide to take up shooting sports, and what attracted you most to this sport?
Shooting sports have attracted me for many years, but I got the opportunity to join the “Strijelac” Shooting Club from Busovača as an active member a year and a half ago. Although my interest in this sport existed much earlier, only then did I have the opportunity to dedicate myself to it more seriously. What attracted me was the unique combination of physical and mental discipline that this sport requires. Through shooting sports, a person learns how to control themselves, calm their heartbeat, develop concentration, and maintain it over a longer period of time. It was precisely this challenge of continuous self-improvement that interested me the most and motivated me to remain in this sport. However, what connected me most strongly to shooting sports was not only the training sessions and competitions, but also the people I met through this sport. Members of the shooting community in Bosnia and Herzegovina are always full of positive energy, mutual respect, and willingness to help. Regardless of your age, experience, or the club you come from, you always feel welcome. During the past year and a half, I have gained the feeling that we are all part of one large family, and it is precisely this shared spirit that has earned shooting sports a special place in my heart.
- Shooting sports require a great deal of discipline, concentration, and perseverance. How do you manage to balance your sporting commitments with your studies?
Shooting sports are indeed a demanding discipline that requires a great deal of dedication, discipline, and work, both of the body and the mind. However, training in shooting sports is not only the time spent on the firing line with a rifle or pistol. In a way, training follows us throughout the entire day. Through everyday activities, we learn to control our breathing, maintain calmness, and make precise, fluid movements without haste or unnecessary tension. If a person truly dedicates themselves to this sport, many of the habits developed during training become part of everyday life. That is exactly why I believe that shooting sports help me balance my athletic and academic obligations more easily. It has taught me discipline, good time management, and the ability to remain focused on the task in front of me. I try to plan my activities in advance so that I can fulfil both my university and sporting commitments in the best possible way. Although it is sometimes not easy to balance training sessions, competitions, and studies, I believe that perseverance, responsibility, and good organisation are the key to success in both areas.
- You recently participated in competitions within the First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in shooting sports. What were your experiences, and what did you learn through such competitions?
Participating in the First League competitions of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been an extremely valuable experience for me. Before my first appearances, I expected that shooters who achieve top results, as well as members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, would in some way be untouchable and distant from other competitors. However, the reality was completely different. Through these competitions, I had the opportunity to meet many top shooters, national team members, coaches, and club presidents, who proved to be very kind, approachable, and warm-hearted people. Regardless of their achievements and experience, they were always willing to talk, share advice, and help younger or less experienced competitors.
This particularly impressed me and left a strong impression on me. Such an atmosphere showed me that shooting sports are not only a sport of results and competition but also a community of people who respect one another and work together to advance the sport. Through these experiences, I learned how important humility, mutual support, and a willingness to share knowledge are, regardless of the level of success someone achieves.
- Which of your achievements or results so far are you particularly proud of, and why?
One of the achievements that means the most to me is that, in a relatively short period of time, I managed to progress to a level where I compete in the highest-ranking competitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I consider this confirmation that hard work, discipline, and consistent effort truly pay off. The moments when I manage to surpass my previous results are also especially valuable. In shooting sports, we are almost always competing not only against others but also against our own limitations and mistakes, which is why every personal improvement carries additional significance. That is why it means a great deal to me when I see months of training and sacrifice reflected in my results. Likewise, simply being entrusted with representing my club at this level of competition is a great honour and a reason for sincere gratitude. I see it as confirmation that my effort, commitment, and dedication have been recognised, as well as additional motivation to continue working on myself and to represent my club with dignity in the future. Besides sporting achievements, shooting sports have also brought me valuable life experiences and taught me responsibility, patience, and self-control, which I consider just as important as any sporting success.
- If you could single out one moment from your sporting career that you will remember forever, which moment would it be and why?
If I had to single out one moment from my sporting career that I will remember for a long time, it would be my first training session at the shooting club. I arrived at the club as someone who knew only the basics of shooting sports, without any practical experience and without a clear idea of what awaited me. Upon arrival, I was welcomed by the club president, Adem Buljina, with a warm greeting and an approach that immediately made me feel welcome. For me, that first training session was not only the beginning of practising a new sport but also the beginning of a completely new experience and a community to which I proudly belong today.
- How has the Hastor Foundation influenced your education, development, and achievement of your goals?
Over the years, the Hastor Foundation has been much more than a scholarship alone. Its support enabled me to dedicate myself to my education with fewer worries, but also to develop as a person through various activities and experiences. Thanks to the Foundation, I had the opportunity to meet a large number of young people from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, exchange experiences with them, and build friendships that continue to this day.
I consider the volunteer activities and projects in which I participated particularly significant because they taught me the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and contributing to the local community. Through the Foundation, I gained experiences that cannot be learned solely in a classroom or at university, and which helped me become a more independent, responsible, and open-minded person. For all these reasons, the Hastor Foundation has played an important role in my educational and personal journey and has helped me work towards achieving my goals with greater confidence, for which I am immensely grateful.
Prepared by: Adina Jusufspahić
