The Bulgarian Boxing Federation hosted the Strandja Memorial Tournament, the Emil Jechev Youth Memorial Tournament and the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships earlier in 2022. Their fourth international event this year will be the 8th Balkan Women’s Tournament which moved to a new date, to September 19-23.
The 8th Balkan Women’s Tournament moved from October to September due to the EUBC European Women’s Elite Boxing Championships. The new edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament will be held only for the elite boxers in order to give a chance for the elite boxers to prepare for the main championships. The Balkan Women’s Tournament could also be a strong preparation for the strong Asian boxers before their ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.
EUBC Board of Director and the President of the Bulgarian Boxing Federation Mr. Krasimir Ininski and his professional team are waiting for the final entry details from the National Federations until September 5. The pre-training camp of the Balkan Women’s Tournament will be starting from September 12 until the start of the international competition.
The history of the Balkan Women’s Tournament
The management of the Bulgarian Boxing Federation launched new international competitions and the Balkan Women’s Tournament was one of them in 2015. The first edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament was held for the junior, youth and elite female boxers too. Boxing powers as Italy, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Ukraine, Canada, Bulgaria, Japan, Vietnam and Azerbaijan were the best nations in 2015.
Bulgaria’s most experienced female boxers such as Sevda Asenova, Stoyka Petrova-Krasteva and Stanimira Petrova won the gold medals in the city of Botevgrad in the 2018 edition where eight different nations claimed at least one title. Eleven countries joined the 5th edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament in 2019 and among them host Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Finland were able to get at least one gold medal in Botevgrad.
The 6th edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament was held in Bulgaria’s Botevgrad from October 19 until the 25th in 2020. AIBA Women’s World Champions Stanimira Petrova and Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil, furthermore Bulgaria’s returning hero, the newly crowned Tokyo Olympic Champion Stoyka Petrova-Krasteva were also among the winners of the 2020 Balkan Women’s Tournament which was held during the tough Covid-19 period.
The new women weight categories were introduced at the 7th edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament in Sofia in October 2021 which was stronger than the previous competition in 2020. Italy claimed four gold medals in the event and topped the medal standings while Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova and Italy’s Alessia Mesiano won the most anticipated finals.
Bulgaria, Chile, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uzbekistan and Wales participated at the 7th Balkan Women’s Tournament one year ago. Altogether 61 elite female boxers competed in the last event with several stars on the board.
Facts of the event
Name: Balkan Women’s Tournament
Date: September 19-23, 2022
Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria
Gender: Women
Age Group: Elite
Date of Birth of the boxers: 1982-2003 born boxers
Weight categories of the event:
Elite Women: 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg and +81kg
The schedule of the Balkan Women’s Tournament
September 19 – Arrival of the delegations
September 19, 19:00 – Technical Meeting
September 19, 20:00 – Official Draw
September 20, 07:00-08:00 – Daily weigh-in and medical examinations
September 20, 14:00 – Official Opening Ceremony
September 20, 14:30 – Day1 competition
September 21, 14:00 – Day2 competition
September 22, 14:00 – Day3 competition with the finals
September 23 – Departure of the delegations
