Stoyan Gochev from the Bulgarian Kudo Federation is the recipient of the National Association of Combat Sports in Bulgaria’s Golden Belt 2025 award in the category “Bright Victory.” He received his prize at the official award ceremony, held on December 5 in the St. St. Constantine and Helena resort near Varna, Bulgaria. The award was presented on stage by the first K-1 MAX World Champion — “The Hurricane” Albert Kraus, who was in Bulgaria for SENSHI 29.
Gochev, representing Kudo – Burgas sports club, is the 2025 European Kudo Champion, achieving a series of remarkable victories throughout the season.
“The award is for my victory over the Ukrainian competitor at the European Championship in Burgas, held on August 5. I had an attractive mid-grip and throw,” Stoyan Gochev explained in a special interview on December 8 for the “Bulgaria Sutrin” morning show.
Success in professional sports comes with many sacrifices, the athlete added. “Victories are achieved at the expense of personal time, weight cutting, and daily double or triple training sessions,” Gochev shared.
In his interview on Bulgaria ON AIR, he revealed that he has been competing in combat sports for five years, but this is his first season in kudo, and he is extremely happy to receive this award from NACS.
“There is no ugly loss. I step on the tatami and try to give my all. Losses are part of the game — I accept them. No matter how bitter they feel, I keep moving forward,” the athlete said.
The full interview with award winner Stoyan Gochev can be watched on the website of Bulgaria ON AIR.
The full broadcast of the annual awards of the 12 federations and the Golden Belt 2025 ceremony of the National Association of Combat Sports will be aired on Bulgaria ON AIR TV on December 27 at 07:00 p.m. EET.
