Mayor Pencho Milkov awarded the young karatekas from the "Bushin" Sports Club for their triumph in Bucharest

Friday, 31 October 2025

Mayor Pencho Milkov honored two graduates of the Bushin Kyokushin Karate Sports Club for their exceptional performance at the Romanian Open Bucharest Challenge Cup tournament.

In the prestigious competition held in Bucharest, Viktor Ivanov and Iliyan Tochev, under the guidance of their coach Sensei Zdravko Ivanov, won prizes in their categories and age groups, with Viktor also winning the championship title.

The mayor welcomed the young athletes and their coach to his office today, with Deputy Mayor Borislav Rachev and the Director of ME "Sports Properties" Lachezar Ivanov also joining in the conversation. The children received certificates from Milkov, who congratulated them on their achievements and shared that "there is no age limit for success - when there is a good coach and strong will, the results are not late." “You are true little heroes and you make us proud of you. Even though you are only in the first and second grades, you have shown incredible endurance, discipline and character. Your medals are proof that with hard work, perseverance and faith in yourself, anything is possible,” said the mayor.

He also presented a congratulatory address to sensei Zdravko Ivanov for his contributions to the successes of the Ruse karatekas.

“Thank you for the dedication, professionalism and patience with which you work with the children and build in them valuable qualities such as will, respect and sportsmanship,” said the mayor.

First-grader from the V. Stoyanov National Sports Institute Viktor Ivanov won the championship title in the under-8 group, under-30 kg category. This was his debut on the international stage, which passed without a single loss – in every match Viktor defeated his rivals by knockout. The champion, who studies in the folk dance class at the Music School, has been practicing karate for two years.

His teammate Iliyan Tonchev, a second-grader from the St. Constantine-Kiril Philosopher Secondary School, won a silver medal in the under-9 group, under-35 kg category. In the final, he tied with his opponent on points, but due to his heavier weight, he remained in second place.

The competition brought together over 400 participants from 11 countries – Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Kuwait, Germany, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey and Pakistan. 42 teams participated in the tournament, with Ruse’s “Bushin” ranking 24th, despite being represented by only three competitors.

The name of the club – “Bushin” – means “proven warrior”, which fully corresponds to the spirit and successes of its graduates.

The next big challenge for the young karatekas will be on November 29 in Gorna Malina, where the Eastern European Kyokushin Karate Championship will be held.

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