Sports scholar eyes international success after winning national Hurdles title

A sports scholar from University College Birmingham is targeting a spot at this summer's biggest international athletics championships after securing his first senior national title.

Bulgarian athlete Kristiyan Patarov took the gold in the 60m hurdles at Bulgaria's 2022 National Indoor Championships, held in the capital Sofia last month.

Winning his heat with the second-fastest time among the field, he crossed the line first in the six-man final with a winning time of 8.15 seconds – less than a tenth of a second off his personal best, despite having suffered with injury problems in his preparations for the competition.

Having scooped silver in his previous appearance at the same event two years ago, it was an eagerly-awaited first senior triumph for the 21-year-old, who was formerly his country's 60m hurdles indoor champion at U20 level.

"I'm really happy," said Kristiyan, who studies Business Enterprise BA (Hons) at University College Birmingham Business School. "There were many people counting on me and I didn't want to disappoint them."

Also specialising in the 110m hurdles as well as competing in relay and flat sprint events, Kristiyan is one of this year's scholars on University College Birmingham's Sporting Excellence Scholarship scheme, which provides a range of benefits for students who demonstrate outstanding sporting achievement and potential.

The scholarship offers up to £3,000 of funding towards competitions, equipment and training over three years, alongside a tailored programme covering elements including sports psychology, nutrition and lifestyle support.

For multi-talented Kristiyan, who balances his athletics with his business degree studies as well as part-time work as a chef, the sports scholarship provides much-needed financial support in his pursuit of elite performance on the track.

"The funding helps towards all the training camps I need," he said. "Most of the time, the only free training camps are from the national team."

Such camps play a key role in the training calendar for Kristiyan, who is aspiring to follow up his Bulgarian indoor title with loftier targets on the international stage later this year, including this summer's European Championships in Germany and perhaps even a place at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

"I'm hoping to get into the top 40 rankings in the world," he said. "That's pretty big, but I'm hoping I can still make it."

Footage of Kristiyan's gold medal-winning performance in the 60m hurdles final can be viewed here.