The White and Reds face an Olympic test in Sofia

An impressive 253 boxers, including 161 men and 92 women from 26 countries, will compete from January 21–25 at the 71st Strandzhata (Strandja) International Boxing Tournament in Sofia. The field includes as many as 21 representatives of Poland—seven women coached by Karolina Michalczuk and 14 men under the guidance of Ivan Yushchenko. This promises to be an excellent, yet highly demanding, test ahead of the Olympic Games.

Our national-team boxers have already learned their tournament draws. In the women’s competition, the bouts between Sandra Drabik (51 kg) and American Cristina Cruz, and Aneta Rygielska (60 kg) and Ireland’s Kellie Harrington, look particularly interesting. Among the men, the toughest opening assignments await Jakub Słomiński (52 kg), who will face Bulgaria’s Daniel Asenov; Damian Durkacz (63 kg), who will meet Brazil’s Wanderson Oliveira; and Mateusz Polski (69 kg). The Pole will compete in a higher weight category, with India’s Duryodhan Singh Negi testing his abilities. Meanwhile, Mateusz Goiński (81 kg) will face Brazil’s Keno Machado. The clash between Mateusz Masternak (91 kg) and unpredictable Frenchman Paul Omba Biongolo also promises to be intriguing.

It is worth recalling that the first edition of the Strandzhata (Strandja) Tournament was held in Sofia on March 26, 1950. This makes it one of the oldest boxing tournaments in the world. Foreign boxers first competed in the event in 1964. In addition to the hosts, Hungary and Romania took part that year.

Draw results

Women
51 kg Sandra Drabik – Cristina Cruz (USA), January 21 (round of 32)
51 kg Natalia Rok – Snezhana Ershova (Russia), January 21 (round of 32)
57 kg Kinga Szlachcic – Sofia Nabet (France), January 21 (round of 32)
57 kg Sandra Kruk – Anastasia Glebova (Russia), January 22 (round of 16)
60 kg Aneta Rygielska – Kellie Harrington (Ireland), January 22 (round of 16)
69 kg Karolina Koszewska – Lalita (India), January 21 (round of 16)
75 kg Agata Kaczmarska – Anastasia Chernokolenko (Ukraine), January 21 (round of 16)

Men
52 kg Jakub Słomiński – Daniel Asenov (Bulgaria), January 21 (round of 16)
57 kg Maciej Jóźwik – Kevin Godla (Czech Republic), January 21 (round of 32)
63 kg Damian Durkacz – Wanderson Oliveira (Brazil), January 22 (round of 16)
63 kg Dominik Palak – Wessam Salamana (Jordan), January 21 (round of 32)
69 kg Mateusz Polski – Duryodhan Singh Negi (India), January 21 (round of 32)
69 kg Łukasz Zyguła – Adel Belalia (Sweden), January 21 (round of 32)
75 kg Ryszard Lewicki – Besart Pireva (Kosovo), January 21 (round of 32)
75 kg Bartosz Gołębiewski – Mindaugas Gedminas (Norway), January 21 (round of 32)
81 kg Sebastian Wiktorzak – Krenar Aliu (Finland), January 21 (round of 32)
81 kg Mateusz Goiński – Keno Machado (Brazil), January 21 (round of 32)
91 kg Michał Soczyński – Aurel Ignat (Moldova), January 21 (round of 32)
91 kg Mateusz Masternak – Paul Omba Biongolo (France), January 22 (round of 16)
+91 kg Piotr Łącz – Daniel Burciu (Romania), January 21 (round of 16)
+91 kg Aleksander Stawirej – Dmytro Lovchynski (Ukraine), January 21 (round of 16)