site.btaGrigor Dimitrov Named Ambassador of Sofia 2026 Down Syndrome Championship

Bulgaria’s most successful tennis player Grigor Dimitrov has accepted an invitation to serve as the face and ambassador of the Down Syndrome World Championships, to be held in Sofia from June 13 to 19, 2026, the Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (FAPA) said on Thursday.

For the first time, Bulgaria will host a championship that will bring together the most talented athletes with Down syndrome from around the globe in five sports: athletics, rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, tennis and table tennis.

On Wednesday, Dimitrov met Plamen Pavlov from Yambol, the only Bulgarian tennis player with Down syndrome who is training with his coach Tanya Lakhteva to defend Bulgaria’s honour on the world stage.

The championship is organized by FAPA under the auspices of the international organization SUDS, which ensures the highest standards and equal conditions for all athletes.

With Grigor Dimitrov’s support and the strength of hundreds of competitors, the Sofia event promises to become an unforgettable milestone in the history of sport in Bulgaria and worldwide, the organizers said.