Bulgaria’s home favourite Dimitar Yanakiev lit up the court in Sofia last week, claiming the men’s singles title at the YONEX Bulgarian International Championship 2025, marking the nation’s only gold in the tournament.
The Future Series event, hosted in the Bulgarian capital, attracted emerging badminton stars from across Europe and Asia, offering a showcase of young talent eager to climb the international rankings.
Yanakiev, representing the RSL BEC High Performance Centre, delivered consistent and composed performances throughout the championship, living up to his top-seed status.
Yanakiev Dominates to Secure Home Victory
In the men’s singles final, Yanakiev faced France’s Yohan Barbieri, who had impressed with his attacking play throughout the week. However, the Bulgarian star proved too strong, sealing a straight-games victory of 21-16, 21-13 to claim the crown.
The triumph marked a significant milestone for Yanakiev, who has been steadily building his reputation in the European circuit. His victory drew loud cheers from the home crowd in Sofia, as Bulgaria celebrated its lone title of the competition.
“Winning in front of my home fans means everything to me,” Yanakiev said after the match. “It’s a special moment that motivates me to push further in international tournaments.”
Podium Highlights: Strong International Field
The tournament’s podium reflected the diversity of talent participating in the Future Series. Spain’s Alvaro Leal and Finland’s Eliel Melleri both reached the semi-finals, sharing the bronze medal position after narrow losses in the final four.
In the women’s singles, Türkiye’s Zehra Erdem emerged as the standout performer, defeating India’s Durga Esha Kandrapu in the final.
Erdem displayed a perfect blend of agility and precision, taking control early and closing the match with a confident performance. Switzerland’s Azkya Aliefa Ruhanda and Scotland’s Rachel Sugden rounded off the podium as joint bronze medallists.
European Pairs Shine in Doubles Events
The men’s doubles saw Poland’s Adrian Krawczyk and Szymon Slepecki clinch the title with a commanding display of teamwork and power. The Polish duo overcame Serbia’s Andrija Doder and Sergej Lukic in the final, continuing their steady rise on the European doubles circuit.
Bulgaria’s own Ivan Rusev and Krasimir Todorov made it to the semi-finals, providing local fans another reason to cheer as they shared third place with Vojtěch Havlíček and Tomáš Švejda from Czechia.
In the women’s doubles, Czech pair Kateřina Osladilová and Tallulah Sharleen Van Coppenolle showcased tactical brilliance and communication to secure the top spot.
They triumphed over Ukraine’s Anastasia Khomich and Ulyana Volskaya, while Bulgaria’s Mihaela Chepisheva and Tsvetina Popivanova earned a joint bronze alongside Austria’s Sarah Dlapka and Lena Rumpold.
Serbia’s Mixed Doubles Duo Claims Gold
The mixed doubles event concluded with an impressive win for Serbia’s Andrija Doder and Sara Loncar, who proved a formidable pairing throughout the tournament.
Their chemistry on court was evident as they overcame Poland’s Szymon Slepecki and Ukraine’s Anastasia Khomich in the final, in what turned out to be one of the event’s most entertaining encounters.
Switzerland’s Nicolas and Julie Franconville—a sibling pair—earned bronze alongside Türkiye’s Bugra Aktas and Sinem Yildiz, both duos showing flashes of promise for the future.
A Step Forward for Bulgaria’s Badminton Scene
The YONEX Bulgarian International Championship is one of the key fixtures in the Badminton Europe Future Series, serving as a platform for developing athletes to gain valuable ranking points and exposure on the global stage.
For Bulgaria, Yanakiev’s victory carried extra significance. It marked a proud moment for the country’s badminton community, which continues to invest in youth development and international training partnerships through initiatives like the RSL BEC High Performance Centre.
The Bulgarian Badminton Federation hailed the win as an inspiration for aspiring athletes. “Dimitar’s performance shows that Bulgarian players can compete at the highest level,” said a federation spokesperson. “His win motivates the next generation to aim even higher.”
International Recognition and Promising Prospects
The event’s success also underscored Sofia’s growing reputation as a hub for badminton in Southeastern Europe. Well-organized matches, enthusiastic crowds, and smooth logistics reflected the professionalism of the tournament staff and the support of sponsors like YONEX and Badminton Europe.
Beyond individual achievements, the championship highlighted the depth of upcoming talent across the continent. With players from more than 15 nations, the Future Series once again proved to be an essential stepping stone toward higher-level competitions on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) circuit.
For Yanakiev, this win could signal the start of a breakthrough season. With consistent form and homegrown confidence, he is expected to climb further in the world rankings and represent Bulgaria in upcoming international tournaments.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 badminton calendar progresses, many of the athletes from Sofia will now turn their attention to upcoming Future Series events across Europe, including stops in Spain, Poland, and Austria.
For the fans in Bulgaria, Yanakiev’s triumph provided a reason to celebrate and believe in the country’s sporting potential once more. His determination and focus reflected the spirit of a player ready to make his mark beyond national borders.
The YONEX Bulgarian International 2025 closed with optimism and renewed enthusiasm for the sport—cementing its place as a key platform for the next generation of badminton stars.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members