Bozhidar Saraboyukov dramatically won the long jump title at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, reports atletikabg.com. The 20-year-old Bulgarian claimed victory with a leap of 8.13m on his final attempt - just one centimetre ahead of pre-event favourite Mattia Furlani of Italy and bronze medallist Lester Lescay of Spain.

In Apeldoorn, the Bulgarian jumper reversed a result from the Jerusalem 2023 European Athletics U20 Championships, where the Italian won gold by a single centimetre with 8.23m from Sarâboyukov, European Athletics recalls.

Before his last attempt Sarâboyukov was sixth with 7.94m and unsuccessful attempts over 8m.

"I am very happy with this success. I would have been happy just to win a medal in such a big championship. It's unexpected for me to be the champion, but apparently God was with me," said Saraboyukov.

The title makes Bozhidar Saraboyukov one of the favourites for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, on 21-23 March.

The gold medal is Bulgaria's 30th at the European Indoor Championships and the first in men's athletics since 2000, when Petar Dachev won the high jump and Iliya Dzhivondov the 400m short track in Ghent, Belgium, BTA reminds. Bulgaria's last women's victory came in 2019, when Radoslava Mavrodieva won the shot put in Glasgow.