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Radoslav Rosenov, Zlatislava Chukanova and Venelina Poptolieva advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective categories at the 77th edition of the Strandja Cup tournament, taking place at Sofia Hall in the capital.
In the men’s 60 kg category, four-time defending trophy holder Rosenov earned a unanimous decision victory over Alen Rustomovski of the Republic of North Macedonia. The Bulgarian, a bronze medalist from the most recent World Championships in Liverpool, displayed his trademark dynamic style with constant movement around the ring, which clearly troubled Rustomovski. Rosenov won the confidence of all five ringside judges in the second and third rounds, while in the first only the referee from Wales saw an advantage for the North Macedonian.
For a place in the semifinals, the Bulgarian will face Mongolia’s Buyandalai Bayarkhu.
In the women’s competition, Chukanova and Poptolieva are one win away from securing a medal in the 51 kg category. Chukanova, who was named Strandja Cup winner last year, reached this stage without fighting after her opponent, Mihaela Budescu of Romania, did not enter the ring. In tomorrow’s quarterfinal, the Bulgarian will face Alyona Unkovska of Ukraine.
Poptolieva defeated another Ukrainian in the second round. After an evenly matched and hard-fought bout, the Bulgarian won by a 4:1 split decision against Yaroslava Marinchuk. In the quarterfinals, she will take on Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers.
In the 57 kg category, young Khristea Ninova, who made her Strandja debut, lost by unanimous decision to Brazil’s Jessica Dias Coutinho.
In the evening session starting at 18:00, five more bouts featuring Bulgarian fighters are scheduled. In the second match in Ring A, Valeria Andreeva (65 kg) will face Oshin Deryu (Belgium), while in the sixth bout William Cholov (80 kg) will take on Mustafa Abdu (Algeria). In Ring B, Kiril Georgiev (+90 kg) will box against Vitor Silva (Brazil) in the ninth bout of the program, followed by Yordan Morejon (+90 kg) in Ring A against Abderahim Maghta (Algeria). The evening will conclude with Dimitar Dimitrov (+90 kg), who will compete in the final bout in Ring B against Andrii Khaletskyi (Ukraine).
