A Historic First: Hristiyan Georgiev Heads to the Taekwondo Grand Prix Final in Astana
Bulgarian taekwondo has reached a milestone it has never reached before. Hristiyan Georgiev will become the first Bulgarian athlete ever to compete in the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Final, which takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 28–29 November 2026.
Gold in Qatar – with a broken leg
Georgiev secured his place by winning gold in the under-54 kg category at Qatar Open 2026. In the final he faced Russia’s Dmitry Balakhneev and left his opponent no chance.
What makes the result truly remarkable is that he fought the entire tournament with a fractured leg. The injury was kept from the organisers, who would not have allowed him to continue. It is the kind of determination Bulgarian fans remember – much like Alexander Dzhordzhev, who became world champion with a broken wrist.
The road to Los Angeles 2028
Competing in the Grand Prix Final among the world’s elite also gives Georgiev a major opportunity in the race to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Another medal for Bulgaria
Teammate Omid Hosseini also stood on the podium in Qatar, taking bronze after a narrow loss in the semi-final to Iran’s Amir Sina Bakhtiari, the reigning Asian champion. Both athletes are coached by Farzad Zolghadri and headed straight on to the Romania Open, while the rest of the national team trained at a preparation camp in Serbia.
🇧🇬 Bravo, Hristiyan! All of Bulgaria will be cheering for you in Astana. Let’s help more people learn about the young Bulgarians making the country proud.
Source: BTA (Bulgarian News Agency)
