The 21st edition of the European Indoor Championships takes place 17-21 February in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The last edition was held in Varaždin, Croatia, in 2024, although this edition is much larger with 318 athletes. The city has previously hosted the 2022 European Grand Prix among other archery events.
The biannual event is notable for featuring many of the world’s best barebows, and some countries, like Great Britain, Serbia and Romania, have sent teams almost entirely consisting of barebow archers.
Last edition’s barebow men winner Gregor Dolar is not returning to defend his title, with bronze medallist and now World Games champion, Italy’s Simone Barbieri likely the favourite in the men’s division, in the absence of Britain’s Oliver Hicks.
In barebow women, Italian legend Cinzia Noziglia, after winning in 2022, lost the gold in 2024 to San Marino’s Kristina Maria Pruccoli. Both Noziglia and Pruccoli will return to action at the Kolodrum arena next week.
There is also a small but strong compound division at the competition including Nicolas Girard, Domagoj Buden, Mario Vavro, Martin Damsbo, Jean Philippe Boulch, Jozef Bosansky, Amanda Mlinaric and Elisa Roner.
