Radoslav Velikov Mixes Silver Feelings After European Cadet Success

Radoslav Velikov, who won a silver medal at the European Cadet Championships in Samokov, expressed mixed emotions following the competition. "I am happy to have reached the final, but I wanted more," Velikov said. "I left feeling frustrated. I had lost to this same opponent twice before, and this is my third loss. Despite being taller and having a strategy against such wrestlers..."

In the final, Velikov fell to Ukrainian wrestler Marco Kvasnyuk with a score of 0:11 in the 45 kg freestyle category. This is the best achievement in the young talent's career so far. Last year, he won a bronze medal at the European Championships for boys.

At this championship, Radoslav, son of world champion Radoslav Velikov, impressed with his semifinal match against Armenian wrestler Erik Gazaryan. The teenager was trailing 3:7 with seconds left but managed to reverse the score to 11:7. "I was focused in that match," Velikov shared. "The Armenian wrestler was already tired, and I heard my father's instructions from the stands, telling me not to give up, to attack and push forward. That's what I did, and I succeeded. After such a match, you feel satisfied with your performance. What has changed since last year? I'm not sure, but the training has increased, as have the camps and competitions..."

In July, the young talent will face a new challenge at the World Cadet Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.