Zlateva beats Djokovic to win Balkan athlete of year

Thursday, 23 December 2010 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian wrestler Stanka Zlateva has been named Balkan Athlete of the Year, the Bulgarian state news agency (BTA) said on Tuesday.

Zlateva won golds at the world championships and at the European championships in the 72-kg category and was named best female wrestler this year by the World Wrestling Federation (FILA).

The 27-year-old Bulgarian beat Serbia’s tennis world number three Novak Djokovic, who helped his country to win the Davis Cup earlier this month.

Turkish basketball player Hidayet Turkoglu, who plays for Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA), came third in the annual poll.