Bulgaria consolidates one of the most successful cycles in its Olympic Taekwondo history

The Bulgarian Olympic Taekwondo Federation held its regular General Assembly for reporting and elections, during which Slavi Binev was unanimously re-elected President of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation for a new five-year term.

During the meeting, the organisation presented the balance of the latest leadership cycle, described as the most successful period in the history of Bulgarian Taekwondo. Under Binev’s leadership, Bulgaria won its first-ever Olympic medal in Taekwondo, as well as the European title claimed by Kimiya Alizade, one of the leading figures of the national team.

According to the report presented to the General Assembly, Bulgarian Taekwondo athletes won 198 medals over the past five years across different age groups and major competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and European Games.

The General Assembly also approved the financial report for the previous year and for the full term of office. The report highlighted that the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation is working in the right direction, with sporting results that have placed its competitors among the leading contenders at major international championships.

A sporting project with social impact

Throughout his leadership, Slavi Binev has promoted a vision of Taekwondo as a tool for comprehensive development. His motto over these years has been: “It is now fashionable to be good, strong and intelligent.”

This phrase reflects the philosophy promoted by the Bulgarian leader, aimed at turning Taekwondo not only into a factory of champions, but also into a platform for building character, strengthening values and offering children and young people a positive alternative to the temptations of the street.

For Binev and his team, Taekwondo represents discipline, education, character and human development, as well as sporting excellence.

New leadership structure

The General Assembly also elected the new Vice-Presidents of the Federation. Hristo Georgiev, Dimitar Mihailov and Peter Palazov were appointed as Vice-Presidents.

In addition, Park Sun Yeon, long-standing Kukkiwon representative for Bulgaria, was elected Honorary Vice-President. His role will be linked to strengthening international relations between World Taekwondo, Kukkiwon and the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation.

For the first time, the Federation will have an Executive Director, a position to be held by Dr Alexander Minev, who until now had served as Secretary General.

The new Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation is composed of: Dimitar Tonchev, Stanimir Lazarov, Jordan Blagoev, Plamen Velev, Ventsislav Ignatov, Georgi Georgiev, Milen Keremedchiev, Georgi Papazki, Dimitar Tsotsorkov, Delyan Ganev and Nikolay Kartalski.

Recognition for the stars of Bulgarian Taekwondo

Following the General Assembly, a formal dinner was held with the attendance of leading authorities and figures from the martial arts community.

Among those present were the dean of martial arts in Bulgaria, Chavdar Chernev; Che Chung Choi, President of the South Korean Parliamentary Commission for the inclusion of Taekwondo as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; and renowned South Korean journalist Song Jin Park, one of the most influential voices in the international coverage of Taekwondo.

The evening also brought together several stars of Bulgarian Taekwondo, who attended as special guests of the re-elected President Slavi Binev. Among them were Vladimir Dalakliev, World Championships bronze medallist in Muju, Korea; Alexander Georgiev, World Cup champion in Egypt; Christian Zlatev, World Championships bronze medallist in Egypt; Stanislav Mitkov, two-time World Championships runner-up; Deya Peeva, bronze medallist at the World Championships in Uzbekistan; Khrisityan Georgiev, World Cup bronze medallist in Nairobi, Kenya; Denis Dimitrov, World Championships runner-up in Uzbekistan; Mitko Georgiev, multiple European Championships medallist; and Erica Karabelva, European silver medallist in Munich.

Bulgaria looks to the future

The unanimous re-election of Slavi Binev represents a strong endorsement of a federation project that has taken Bulgarian Taekwondo into a new phase of sporting growth, international recognition and institutional consolidation.

With historic results, a renewed structure and a generation of athletes with a presence on the world stage, Bulgaria is emerging as one of Europe’s fastest-growing nations in Olympic Taekwondo.

The new five-year term will have as its main challenge the task of sustaining the level already achieved, strengthening the sporting base and continuing to position Taekwondo as a tool for education, excellence and national pride.

Carlos Hernández