Radoslav Rosenov is Athlete No. 1 of Ruse for 2025.

Wednesday, 14 January 2026

Georgi Chilikov is the most successful coach, and FC Dunav is the team of the year

The most successful in 2025 Ruse athletes, coaches and teams were awarded tonight at the "Athlete of the Year" ceremony, which was held in the Dokhodno zdanie. The packed hall applauded the winners - Radoslav Rosenov - athlete No. 1, Georgi Chilikov - coach No. 1, Eleonora Pavlova - athlete-applicant No. 1 and Football Club Dunav - team No. 1 of 2025.

The event began with a minute of silence in memory of Prof. Dr. Kiril Panayotov, who restored weightlifting in the region and founded the Ruse Weightlifting Sports Club, which brought world, European and Balkan medals to the city and the country.

Mayor Pencho Milkov opened the ceremony and thanked the competitors for raising the name of Ruse to the highest podiums in the world last year. "With your efforts, will, faith and discipline, you have glorified your clubs, families and our beloved Ruse. I thank all the coaches who stand behind every successful athlete - your mentors who prepare you, support you in difficult moments and shape your personality on the path to high sportsmanship. But sport is not only about victories over opponents, but above all about victory over yourself - every day to master yourself and your strength. Let us all show that strength should be used for good and aggression has no place among young people. This is my message to you - become part of those who do good in many directions," said Milkov and wished everyone health and an unwavering will to win.

The winners of the sports top ten were chosen by journalists who participated in the poll of the newspaper "Utro". Number one athlete Radoslav Rosenov is an eight-time European boxing champion and a bronze medalist at the World Championship for men. Ranked second, Angel Rusev from Weightlifting Sports Club-Ruse is a five-time European weightlifting champion. Third is Yuliana Yaneva from the Yunak club - vice-champion of the World Championship in freestyle wrestling for women and gold medalist of the State Championship. Fourth position is occupied by Ivan Banchev from the Jumbo club - European indoor archery champion and national outdoor and indoor champion. Fifth place is assigned to Bilyana Dudova from the Yunak club because of the bronze medal won at the European Championship in freestyle wrestling. Sixth in the ranking is Deniz Danev from Weightlifting Sports Club-Ruse, who is a silver medalist at the European Championship in weightlifting for competitors under 23 years of age. Seventh is Sevda Asenova from the Ruse Boxing Club, who reached fifth place at the Women's World Boxing Championship and became the national champion and champion of the Strandjata Cup. The captain of FC Dunav, Kamen Hadzhiev, is eighth in the ranking. Last year, his team is the leader in the Second League of Bulgaria, and Hadzhiev is one of the team's top scorers with 5 goals. Ninth is Damyan Iliev from the Lokomotiv-Toncho Todorov Club - European junior champion in sports shooting and state champion with two national records. The top ten is completed by Kaloyan Petrov from the Image Club, who won the World Cup in synchronized mixed doubles trampoline jumping together with Hristina Peneva.

The ten elite athletes received a bronze statuette "Star" made by sculptor Nina Lishovska, a diploma on behalf of the mayor and a cash prize. The awards were presented by Gabriel Valkov - Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports in the 51st National Assembly, Acad. Hristo Beloev - Chairman of the Municipal Council in Ruse, Stoyan Koprivlenski - world champion in K-1 World MAX and multiple champion and winner of cups from various international tournaments, Teodor Karastoyanov - competitor with 12 amateur kickboxing titles in Bulgaria, coach and founder of the Bulgarian MMA Federation, representative of the Bulgarian Fight Agency, PhD. Rositsa Georgieva, head of the RDE-Ruse, Evgeni Ignatov and deputy mayors Zlatomira Stefanova, Encho Enchev and Borislav Rachev.

The editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Utro" Mladen Lyubenov awarded the "Phoenix" statuette to the best competitor in applied sports. This year it is Eleonora Pavlova from the Prista sports model club - world champion among women in aeromodelling class F1E - WCH F1E RANA 2025 and first among women in the final standings for the 2025 World Cup.

The journalists named Georgi Chilikov - head coach of the Dunav football team - as coach No. 1. In 2025, the team broke all records in the Second League and is the sole leader with a 6-point lead. For his merits, Chilikov received the "Victory" statuette and an honorary diploma from Deputy Mayor Dimitar Nedev.

A special moment in the event was dedicated to boxer Sevda Asenova, who ended her sports career in 2025. For her overall contribution to boxing and sports, the champion received an honorary plaque from Pencho Milkov.

The mayor awarded the "Star" statuette, a diploma and a cash prize to the Athlete No. 1 of the Year - Radoslav Rosenov and wished him medals at the Olympic Games.

The football club "Dunav" became the No. 1 team due to the team's extremely successful performance in 2025 years. The mayor presented the coach and the team with the "Victory" statuette and a diploma and emphasized that the club has always been a symbol of the spirit of Ruse - fighting, dignified and forward-looking. "I congratulate the coaching staff and the management for the correct strategy and patience, and I wish the players health and even greater confidence," said Milkov.

Among the official guests of the ceremony were Dragomir Draganov - Regional Governor of Ruse, Eleonora Gurbanova - Regional Coordinator of Ruse at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bishop Makariy of Glavinitsa - Vicar of the Metropolitan of Ruse, Alexander Kovachev - Deputy Director of the Regional Directorate of Ministry of Interior Ruse, Lieutenant Colonel Pavlin Iliev - Commander of Military Formation 32420, Commissioner Svetoslav Voychev - Director of the Regional Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection, municipal councilors and members of the Municipal Committee for Youth and Sports, Georgi Hristov - sports journalist of the newspaper "Utro", Evgeni Nedev - Director of the Sports School "Major Atanas Uzunov", coaches and representatives of sports clubs.

The winner of "The Voice of Bulgaria" Petya Paneva congratulated the awardees and the audience with her performances, and the musical program also included Stefania Gornachka, the Children's and Youth Ensemble "Zornitsa", the Dance Sports Club "Flamingo", the Cheerleading Squad "Extreme", the Dance Club "Freedom", the Folklore Studio "Zora" and others. The ceremony was hosted by Joanna Angelova.

The celebration was organized by the Municipality of Ruse with the assistance of the companies "AS - stroy" Ltd, "Transstroy - Ruse " and "Medicom" Ltd.

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