Jayce
The Bulgarian badminton community, along with numerous friends worldwide, mourns the passing of Dr. Puzant Kassabian. Dr. Kassabian passed away at his home in Haskovo, where he was an honorary citizen, at the age of 83. He was a remarkable athlete, an outstanding leader, and above all, a great individual.
Dr. Puzant Kassabian was a top-tier all-around athlete, representing his country in five different sports. An accomplished basketball player and a table tennis champion during his medical school years, he discovered badminton and fell in love with the sport. Puzant became a genuine pioneer of badminton in Bulgaria and several neighboring countries, also showcasing his prowess in international tennis and squash competitions.
In our sport, Dr. Kassabian, alongside his brother Asen, frequently won the national men’s doubles championship. In 1977, he participated in the inaugural World Badminton Championships held in Malmö, Sweden. Remarkably, 24 years later, in 2001, he competed in his last World Championships in Seville, Spain—a record that will likely stand the test of time. However, his contributions as a coach and leader were undoubtedly more significant than his accomplishments on the court.
Dr. Kassabian dedicated his life to Bulgarian badminton. In 1965, he introduced badminton to Bulgaria and founded the Bulgarian Badminton Federation. For over 50 years, he led the organization, holding positions such as president, secretary-general, and coach, while also serving as the team doctor. Under his leadership, athletes like Diana Koleva, Victoria Hristova, and Petya Nedeltcheva emerged, achieving success on the international stage. Even today, French representatives on the global stage, such as the Stoeva sisters and the Popov family, owe part of their success to Dr. Kassabian’s contributions.
Dr. Kassabian’s leadership extended far beyond his homeland. He established the Balkan Badminton Federation and organized coaching courses and training camps, where participants from neighboring Balkan countries, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, and his native Armenia received top-notch training from European experts, significantly contributing to the region’s badminton development.
In 1988, Dr. Kassabian was elected to the Development Committee of Badminton Europe Confederation (BEC), serving until 1993. Later, he also served the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as a council member from 2000 to 2009. Internationally, one of his notable achievements was establishing a world training center in Sofia, which operated from 2005 to 2009.
Dr. Kassabian will be fondly remembered by his many friends around the world, not only for his numerous achievements but also for his positive, kind, and generous personality. He was pragmatic, often overcoming bureaucratic and other issues with a smile and a few well-chosen kind words, whether on the badminton court or during competitions. Many of us will raise a glass of his favorite Rakir wine in his honor. Whenever we hear the famous Italian hit “Mariana, Marina, Marina”—another of Puzant’s favorites—we will gratefully remember our friend.
Dr. Kassabian received the BEC Presidential Medal, the BWF Distinguished Service Award, and Bulgaria’s highest honors, the Order of Stara Planina and the Crown of the Victor.
