site.btaRussian Wrestler Shamil Mamedov Permitted to Compete for Bulgaria

Russian wrestler Shamil Mamedov has been granted permission to compete for Bulgaria by the Governing Board of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation. Five members of the Board voted in favour of admitting the Dagestan-born wrestler, three were against, and three abstained, including President Stanka Zlateva.

Zlateva reiterated her position that Bulgaria should not take in foreign athletes, but rather develop its own, as was her pre-election platform.

After the Board meeting, one of the members, world champion Rahmat Sukra, resigned.

The 24-year-old Mamedov is a bronze medalist from the World Championships in Belgrade in 2023. He competes in the 65 kg freestyle wrestling category. In January, Mamedov received a Bulgarian passport, a procedure initiated by the previous leadership of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation. Mikyay Naim, who is European  vice champion, competes in the same category in Bulgaria. Other young athletes in this category include his brother Denis Naim and Erdal Galip.