site.btaBoxer Zlatislava Chukanova Secures First Medal for Bulgaria at Strandja Cup

Zlatislava Chukanova secured the first medal for Bulgaria at the 75th Strandja International Boxing Tournament in Sofia. On Thursday, she advanced to the semi-finals in the women's 50 kg event, which means she will receive at least a bronze medal in Europe's oldest surviving international boxing competition (February 4-11).

Chukanova opened the fifth day of the tournament with an excellent performance against Aylin Gonzalez of Guatemala. The Bulgarian showed mastery and class against the highly aggressive and energetic fighter from Central America. She successfully resisted every attempt by Gonzalez to pin her against the ropes, throwing barrages of accurate punches in return. Chukanova won the match by a unanimous 5-0 decision. On Saturday, February 10, she will face India's Nikhat Zareen in a bid for the finals.

The other Bulgarian in the women's 50 kg event, Venelina Poptoleva, was an equal match for Uzbekistan's Sabina Bobokulova but lost the fight. Poptoleva started off unconvincingly, and then showed a more dynamic style as she tried to turn the odds in her favour. She failed, and lost by a 2-3 decision.