site.btaStrandja Boxing Tournament Opens in Sofia

Bulgarian Boxing Federation President Krasimir Ininski opened the 75th edition of the Strandja International Boxing Tournament on Sunday. 

Europe's oldest surviving international boxing competition, also known as the Strandzha Cup or the Strandja Memorial, will be held at the Sofia Hall in the Bulgarian capital between February 4 and 11. 

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Sports Minister Daniela Dasheva, EUBC Technical Delegate Dragoljub Radovic, National Sports Base Executive Director Svetoslav Rusinov and Lucien Velchev, member of the Board of the Bulgarian Boxing Federation, Bulgaria's Olympic boxing champions Georgi Kostadinov and Petar Lesov.    

"I would like to welcome everyone to this strong tournament. It's a world-class tournament and it's also an anniversary edition. I hope we will all experience the pleasure of the sport we love. I wish all the competitors to enjoy the tournament injury-free and let the best one wins," Ininski said in his remarks.  

Entrants from four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and North America) will demonstrate their fighting prowess. Nearly 30 countries will field about 300 boxers in total. The list includes leading nations in this sport such as Armenia, China, France, India, Ireland, Thailand, Turkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 

Bulgaria will be represented by 14 entrants, male and female. The nation will count on its top amateur pugilists. They will use the Strandja Tournament to prepare for the qualifying competitions for the Paris Olympics this summer.