Bulgaria secures three medals at European Sumo Championships

Bulgaria won one gold and two silver medals at the European Sumo Championships in Stirling, Scotland.

Presiyan Mihov claimed the European title in the men's under-77 kg category after defeating Ukraine's Sabir Garayev in the final, according to the Bulgarian Sumo Federation. The victory earned Mihov his second European championship title, having previously won the competition in 2023. He also secured bronze medals at the 2024 and 2025 editions, CE Report quotes BTA.

In the same weight category, Atanas Kolev began the tournament with a win over a Scottish opponent before losing to eventual finalist Garayev. A refereeing error later denied him the opportunity to compete for the bronze medal.

Competing in his first European Championships, Georgi Anachkov won the silver medal in the men's under-70 kg category after losing to Ukraine's Dmytro Mykhniuk in the final.

Stanislava Atanasova also claimed silver, finishing runner-up in the women's under-80 kg division after being defeated by Ukraine's Daria Konstantinova in the gold medal match.

In the men's under-115 kg category, Simeon Stankovich reached the bronze medal contest but lost to Hungary's Marcell Gyuricza.

Mihail Melehov was also in contention for a medal in the men's under-100 kg category. However, he was forced to withdraw on medical advice after suffering an open head wound before the final repechage bout that would have determined a place in the bronze medal match.

Former European champions Ivan Blagoev (under-100 kg) and Stilian Ivanov (under-92 kg), multiple European Championship medalist Viktor Kostov (under-85 kg), and multiple women's European medalist Mihaela Hristova (under-65 kg) were all unable to reach the podium in Stirling.

The Bulgarian team was coached by Hristo Hristov and Nikolay Nikolov, while the delegation was led by Bulgarian Sumo Federation President Valeri Nikolov.

Photo: Bulgarian Sumo Federation