Radio Bulgaria

The Bulgarian national women’s volleyball team won the silver medals at the European League tournament, after losing 1:3 at the final played in Ankara (Turkey) by Serbia. The Bulgarians played well but the Serbian team managed to defend the title from last year. The Bulgarians demonstrated spirited play but lost 25:20 the first two games. In the third game Bulgaria won 25:16. A day before the final, the team accomplished a dramatic 5-game victory over Turkey. Two of the Bulgarians received individual prizes. Maria Filipova grabbed the award for best libero, while Strashimira Filipova received the prize for best service.

The good performance of Bulgarian football teams at the European club tournaments continues. The team of Litex (Lovech) won 4:0 against the Montenegrin team of Rudar (Plevlja) in the second match between the teams in the second qualification round of the Champions League. The game took place in Podgorica and with a final score of 5:0 Litex continues forward in the most prestigious European club tournament. The team will play against Zilina (Slovakia) in the third qualification round as the Slovaks won 3:0 the second match against the team of Birkikara (Malta) and with a total score of 3:1 also move forward. The first match between Litex and Zilina will take place on July 27 in Lovech. The second match will be played a week after that.

The team of Levski (Sofia) won 2:0 as guests to the Irish team of Dundalk and with a total score of 8:0, goes to the third qualification round of the Europa League. Levski will play against the Swedish team of Kalmar, which managed eliminate the Moldavian team of Dacia. Levski will be a guest to the Swedish team on July 29. The other two Bulgarian participants in the Europa League – CSKA (Sofia) and Beroe (Stara Zagora) will join the tournament in the third qualification round. Beroe will play against Rapid Vienna, after the Austrian team won for a second time against the Lithuanian Suduva and with a total score of 6:2 moves forward in the tournament. The match between Beroe and Rapid will take place on July 29 in Sofia. On July 27, CSKA (Sofia) will play at home against Cliftonville (Northern Ireland), which managed to eliminate the Croatian team of Cibalia with a total score of 1:0.

The Bulgarian national track and field athletics team has already departed for Barcelona for the 20th European Athletics Championships, which is to take place between July 26 and August 1. The team includes 9 women and 7 men. One of the Bulgarian competitors with biggest chances for a medal in the tournament is Vanya Stambolova. She will compete in the 400-meter hurdles competition. 4 years ago, Stambolova won the gold at the 400-meter sprint event in Gothenburg (Sweden).

The best Bulgarian marathon swimmer Petar Stoichev has won the bronze at the 25-kilometer open water-swimming marathon in Roberval, Canada. His time was 5 hours, 33 minutes and 50 seconds. US Swimmer Alexander Mayer won the gold with a time of 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 39 seconds. Second was Valerio Cleri form Italy with 5 hours, 32 minutes and 40 seconds.

Taibe Usein won the bronze in the 63-kilogram category at the Junior World Championship in Budapest (Hungary). Competing for the medal, the Bulgarian won 2:0 against Ukrainian Anna Fedorova. At the semi-finals Taibe Usein lost 2:0 against Danielle Lappage (Canada).