site.btaBulgarian Boxing Marks Its Centenary

The centenary of organized boxing in Bulgaria was marked at a ceremony at the Sofia Sports Hall on Friday evening. Attending were Bulgarian Olympic, world and European champions, coaches and boxing officials.

In his address, Sport Minister Georgi Glushkov wished there would be a future, where boxing will become a cause and a vocation for more athletes.

"On behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I thank all the athletes, coaches and activists who have made a valuable and significant contribution to Bulgarian sport over all these years," said Minister Glushkov, adding that in the history of boxing in Bulgaria there are many examples that have shown how with hard work one can achieve great successes that have brought pride and national self-confidence.

In its history Bulgaria has won 20 Olympic medals, 42 World Championships medals, 147 European championships medals, 16 World Cup medals, 4 European Games medals and 43 at European Union Championships. Since the establishment of organized boxing in the country, Bulgaria has hosted several European tournaments, and for six decades Sofia has welcomed the participants of one of the oldest and most prestigious boxing tournaments in the world - Strandja, the Ministry of Youth and Sports added.