site.btaSports Minister Awards Chess Player Salimova with Honorary Plaque for Outstanding Success

Sports Minister Dimitar Iliev Tuesday awarded chess player Nurgyul Salimova with an honorary plaque of the Sports Ministry for outstanding success after she won a silver medal at the FIDE’s Women’s World Cup in Baku on August 21. He stressed that both she and her coach Zhivko Zhekov would be given monetary prizes for the achievement.

During the meeting, Salimova spoke about the challenges during the tournament in Azerbaijan and about the next important competitions she is preparing for. Iliev noted that during the World Cup in Baku, the Bulgarian society followed Nurgyul's moves with bated breath, and her achievement brought the subject of chess into the limelight, including starting a discussion about teaching it in schools.

The meeting was also attended by Salimova’s parents, her coach, Bulgarian Chess Federation 2022 (BCF 2022) President Vasil Antonov, BCF 2022 Board Member Veneta Petkova, BFC 2022 lawyer Hristo Mitkov, as well as the Deputy Sports Minister Daniela Dasheva.