Sixteen Bulgarian rowers, divided into six crews, are among the 655 athletes from 54 countries competing for medals across 14 different boat classes. The major sporting event, hosted by Plovdiv, began on August 6 and will continue until August 9, bringing together the elite of world junior rowing under 19.
The official opening was attended by key figures from the sports world and local government, including World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland, Bulgarian Olympic Committee President Vessela Letcheva, Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv Nikolay Bukhalov, and Bulgarian Rowing Federation leader Svilen Neykov. Minister of Youth and Sports Encho Keryazov addressed those present, stating: "It is an honor and a pleasure for me to welcome you to Bulgaria and Plovdiv – one of our most beautiful cities with a thousand-year history. I wish all competitors success and the achievement of their set goals."
Keryazov used the occasion to highlight the immense role of sport as a unifying factor, citing the discipline of rowing as an example. In his address, he emphasized the need for unity to achieve high sporting results, adding: "To achieve results, however, it is not enough just to be in the same boat. It is important to row in sync and in the same direction."
The honor of the hosts will be defended by the following representatives in the various disciplines:
- Junior men: Daniel Marinov (single sculls), Ilian Nikolov and Petar Penkov (double sculls), Stefan Kostov, Stoichko Stoichkov, Filip Yordanov and Daniel Petkov (quadruple sculls), as well as Yulian Shopkin, Atanas Borisov, Alexander Milanov and Valeri Dimitrov (coxless four).
- Junior women: Rumyana Stoyanova (single sculls), Maria Chakarova, Liliya Gospodinova, Viktoria Hristova and Svetlozara Georgieva (quadruple sculls).