Back to Europe and the Mediterranean, after presenting team South Africa, with interview to Valentin Lyutskanov, Captain of Bulgary, who told us very interesting things about the team and the importance of the strategy.
ApneaPassion: Euro-African 2019: special situation with non-traditional fishing compared to warmer waters and also fishing starting from the shore…how did you choose the team and please present briefly each athlete?
Valentin Lyutskanov: The Bulgarian National Spearfishing Team has selected on the basis of the results of the internal competitions, during the last three years. This is the principle we follow when drafting the national team, regardless of the conditions in which it will participate. Our team consists of Plamen Arabadzhiev, a long-time national competitor with huge experience, Anastas Bacharov and Miroslav Ilchev – competitors with excellent qualities, as well as me, Valentin Lyutskanov, with extensive international experience. Each of us has distinguished itself with serious individual achievements.
AP: Expectations for this competition?
VL: Our expectations for this championship are higher than usual because the conditions are closer to the fishing we are used to here in the Black Sea. Shallow sea and turbid waters. In similar conditions, we were in Finland in 2013 and then took third place. It would be difficult to achieve this success since then, but why not improve it … We know that many teams will participate and the competition will be very serious. Our program “minimum” is 10th place, as the first ten places give a quota for the next World Cup. I hope that we will perform very well and with a little luck, we can really achieve a very good result.
AP: Key elements to be strong in this competition? (physical, tactical, experience in these waters..)
VL: The key element in this race, in my opinion, is very precise tactics. In this case, we do not have boat navigation, which more or less restricts competitors from moving around the area. The initial assessment and the preliminary plan will therefore be of particular importance. Of course, knowledge and experience in these more unusual waters will be a plus for those who have it. We know that there are strong currents and the physical condition is also not to be underestimated, because the competitors will have to contend with this circumstance as well.
AP: Strongest teams and athletes to look at?
VL: All teams have a chance to surprise, but in my opinion one of the main favorites to win the race is Spain. They have long proven to be incredible tactics that have great performers. Italy and Portugal are also potential leaders. I also expect a good performance from the host team – Denmark.
