Anđelija Stevanović and Aleksa Rakonjac win European U23 mixed gold

Anđelija Stevanović and Aleksa Rakonjac won European under-23 gold in the mixed air rifle event. The Serbian pair completed a strong final and added another medal to the national team's championship total.

The victory continued an outstanding event for Stevanović. She collected gold in every discipline she entered. Serbia finished the second competition day with seven medals across the programme.

The mixed pair stayed composed through the final

Mixed air rifle places one female and one male shooter in the same team. Their scores combine throughout the contest. A poor series from either athlete can change the order quickly. Stevanović and Rakonjac reached the decisive stage with consistent shooting. They then protected their rhythm when the pressure increased. The final reward was the European title. The event requires calm preparation before every shot. Shooters control breathing and body position while the clock continues. The target punishes very small movement.

Current ISSF rules give each athlete thirty qualification shots. The four leading pairs advance to one final. Air rifle competitors shoot from a standing position at ten metres. Both shooters contribute to every team total throughout the event. Serbia's pair managed those details better than its final opponent. Their gold came from two individual performances working as one result. Neither score could be removed from the team total. The medal also showed depth across Serbia's young rifle group. Rakonjac brought senior international experience. Stevanović added the strongest week of her young career.

Aleksa Rakonjac prepares a shot in an air-rifle competition.

Stevanović completed a rare clean sweep

Anđelija Stevanović entered three championship disciplines and won gold in all three. Her results included individual and team responsibility. The mixed title completed that sequence. A clean sweep requires repeated focus across several days. Celebration after one medal cannot disturb the next preparation. Stevanović returned to the range and produced another winning score. The events also differ in their rhythm. Individual qualification rewards a long series of accurate shots. Team contests add direct comparison and changing pressure.

Stevanović handled both forms. Her three gold medals came from confirmed results rather than a projection about future potential. That distinction makes the achievement clear. Serbia has a strong tradition in shooting. New under-23 medals connect the current group with that standard. Stevanović's week stands out even inside a successful national programme.

Pistol shooters added more Serbian medals

Serbia's success was not limited to the air rifle range. The men's junior pistol team earned a bronze medal. Their combined performance placed them on the European podium. Uroš Gajić also won individual bronze. His result gave the pistol group a separate personal medal. Team and individual success therefore appeared in the same part of the programme. Seven medals after two days reflected contributions from several athletes. The total included different age groups and event types. That spread is important for a national squad.

Coaches manage separate technical routines for rifle and pistol. The athletes still share preparation areas and team support. Positive results can strengthen the atmosphere without changing each shooter's task. Every medal came from a final or a completed ranking. Qualification places were not included in Serbia's podium total.

The title rewards Serbia's young shooting depth

Under-23 competition sits close to the senior level. Many participants already appear at World Cups and major championships. The category gives them another high-pressure international stage. Rakonjac has experience in senior fields. Stevanović now leaves with three European titles from this event. Their mixed success shows how those different paths can combine. The pair's next competitions will begin from zero like every shooting final. These medals still remain part of their record. They also provide evidence that Serbia can field strong teams.

Gajić and the junior pistol team also won medals in another discipline. Serbia's total came from several shooters and several events. The central result is precise: Anđelija Stevanović and Aleksa Rakonjac are European under-23 mixed air rifle champions. Their gold led another successful Serbian day.

Team events add a different form of pressure

Individual shooting allows an athlete to manage only a personal score. A mixed event connects every shot with a partner's result. Both shooters see how the combined total changes. That connection can increase pressure after one lower score. The next athlete cannot repair everything with a reckless shot. Normal technique remains the safest route back. Stevanović and Rakonjac maintained that discipline through the final. Their combined performance placed Serbia first. The gold belongs equally to both members of the pair.

The event also tests communication away from the firing line. Short support can help after a difficult series. Technical corrections remain the responsibility of each shooter and coach. Serbia's pair handled those demands throughout the contest. Both shooters contributed to the mixed-team gold medal.