The Bulgarian Cristian Doychev is the new European Champion of Karate Kyokushin amongst men up to 85 kg. After a well-disputed battle against Gmen Aramyan from Russia, Cristian of the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation (BKKF) Team held a deserved golden medal. He won the title after an initial draw and an extension of two minutes and it was exactly then when Cristian demonstrated overwhelming technique and will, which gave him the win. His award was given personally by the Minister of Youth and Sport Krasen Kralev.
“I am extremely proud that more than 40 years ago, here, in Varna, the first karate kyokushin dojo was established. In all those years Varna became one of the European and international centres of this sport. I am thankful to the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation for its effort and for the fact that during their existence they manage to engage as much children, juniors and adolescents as they can into this wonderful art. This is one of the sports, which train strong Bulgarians with high spirit. You are building a generation, of which Bulgaria has a desperate need for its renaissance”, said Minister Kralev at the opening ceremony of the European Championship for men, women and veterans in Varna. It is organised by the Kyokushin World Union (KWU), and the host is the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation (BKKF).
Apart from the European title, Bulgaria has two silver and seven bronze medallists. Dilyan Nikolov (cat. up to 60 kg) and Dimitar Dimitrov (cat. up to 75 kg) won the silver medals. In the women category Lyubomira Nikolova (cat. women up to 65 kg) and Krasimira Mireva (cat. women up to 60 kg) grabbed a bronze, and amongst men Stilyan Petkov (cat. 65 kg), Ivan Komanov (cat. 70 kg), Georgi Doychev (cat. 80 kg), Georgi Ivanov (cat. 95 kg) and Hristo Georgiev (cat. 90+ kg) became third best at the European Championship.
A special prize for best fighting technique amongst men was awarded to Cristian Doychev and in veterans the highest fighting spirit prize went to sempai Milen Petrov.
With these awards from the European Championship for men, women and veterans we ended a long and thrilling kyokushin weekend, which brought together over 1000 karateka and coaches from 32 states across the globe at the Palace of Culture and sports in Varna. The simultaneous happening of the sixth Open World Championship for juniors and the second European Championship for men, women and veterans is a precedent in history of sport and Bulgaria had the chance to be the first choice for host.
From the World Championship for juniors our karateka got one silver and three bronze medals. Miglen Dimitrov won the vice-championship yesterday and Ivon Teneva (cat. 12/13-years old), Teodora Popova (cat. 12/13- years old) and Vasil Dimitrov (cat. 16/17- years old) grabbed the bronze.
All results from the karate kyokushin championships in Varna could be seen at http://kwu.kumitetechnology.com/.
