Gabriela Stoeva (Bulgarian: Габриела Стоева; born 15 July 1994) is a Bulgarian badminton player specializing in doubles. Her current partner is her younger sister, Stefani Stoeva. The pair is the three-time European Champion and two-time European Games gold medalist as well.[2][3] They competed at the 2016, 2020 and the 2024 Summer Olympics.[4]

Gabriela Stoeva
Personal information
CountryBulgaria
Born (1994-07-15) 15 July 1994 (age 30)[1]
Haskovo, Bulgaria[1]
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Years active2009–present
HandednessRight
Women's doubles
Highest ranking8 (with Stefani Stoeva 8 November 2018)
Current ranking18 (with Stefani Stoeva 24 September 2024)
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Bulgaria
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Baku Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Kraków–Małopolska Women's doubles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Huelva Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2021 Kyiv Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madrid Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2017 Kolding Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2024 Saarbrücken Women's doubles
European Women's Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Kazan Women's team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Basel Women's team
European Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Ankara Women's doubles
BWF profile

Career

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Gabriela playing with her sister, Stefani

Gabriela Stoeva started playing badminton at age 10 in the Haskovo School Club. She joined the national team in 2008, and made a debut in the international event in 2009.[5] In 2009, she won a bronze medal at the European U-17 Championships in the girls' doubles event partnered with her sister, Stefani Stoeva.[6] And at the 2013 European U-19 Championships, the sister won the gold medal.[7]

Stoeva won her first BWF Grand Prix title at the 2014 Scottish Open in the women's doubles event with her sister. They beat Heather Olver and Lauren Smith of England in the finals round with the score 21-7 21–15.[8] In 2015, she also won the Grand Prix tournament at the Russian and Dutch Open.[9] Stoeva competed in the 2015 European Games, winning gold in women's doubles alongside her younger sister[10]

In 2017, the Stoevas finished as the runner-ups at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold tournament, losing to the Chinese pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in the straight games.[11] The sisters also won the silver medal at the European Championships.[12]

2018–2019: First ever Bulgarian to win the Eropean Championships title

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Gabriela started the 2018 season by finished as women's doubles runner-up in the Swiss Open with her sister Stefani.[13] They then won their first title of the year in the Orléans Masters.[14] Competing as the second seed in the European Championship, the Stoeva took advantage of the absence of the top seed Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen, by winning their first ever European title, becoming the first Bulgarian players to win the European title since the tournament was first held in 1968. At the home soil, Bulgarian Open, she played in two events, the women's doubles with her sister, while in the mixed doubles with Jakub Bitman of Czechia. She won the women's doubles title and reached the semi-finals in the mixed doubles. The Stoeva are increasingly being considered on the BWF World Tour, as proven by their ability to reach the semi-finals at the China Open, beating top pairs such as Lee So-hee and Shin Seung-chan in the second round, and then Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in the quarter-finals. They are increasingly successful in Europe by winning titles such as Dutch Open, SaarLorLux Open, and Scottish Open, as well being runner-up in the French Open. They then reached their career high as world number 8 in the BWF World rankings, and also closed the season ranked as number 7 in the Tour Finals rankings.[15]

2020–2021: Second European Championships title

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Gabriela and her partner Stefani were lost in the initial rounds in two opening tournaments in 2020. They lost in the first round to Chang Ye-na and Kim Hye-rin at the Indonesia Masters, and to world number 1 Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in the Thailand Masters. The Stoeva then reached the final in the Spain Masters, losing the final to Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu in a close rubber games.[16] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous tournaments on the 2020 BWF World Tour were either cancelled or rescheduled for later in the year, they then felt the atmosphere of a tournament in Sofia in October, at the Bulgarian International,[17] where she and her partner emerged victory at that tournament. The duo then ended the season by winning the Super 100 event at the SaarLorLux Open.[18]

The Stoevas opened the 2021 season as the finalists in the Swiss Open, losing the title to the rising Malaysian pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan.[19] They then finished runner-up in the Orléans Masters this time losing to Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand. The duo then clinched their first title of the year by winning their second European Championships title in Kyiv, Ukraine.[20] The duo competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but were eliminated in the group stage.[21]

2022: 3rd European Championships title

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Gabriela and her partner Stefani opened the 2022 season with quite satisfactory results, by becoming finalists in the German Open. They then won 3 consecutive tournaments, in the Swiss Open, Orléans Masters and in their third European Championships.[22]

Gabriela and Stefani ended the year on poor form, exiting four of their final six tournaments in the first round. She stated that their partnerships were lost communication on court, only arguing, and the energy around them was pretty negative.[23]

2023: Second European Games gold

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In the first semester of 2023, Stoeva has not been able to win any single titles, as her best results with Stefani was being quarter-finalists in the Malaysia, India and the German Opens.[24] Gabriela tried to partner with young player, Kaloyana Nalbantova, and was able to reach the quarter-finals in the Dutch International.[25]

Gabriela and Stefani claimed their first title of the year by winning the gold medal at the European Games, beating Dutch pair Debora Jille and Cheryl Seinen in the finals.[26] They also competed in the BWF World Championships, but had to be knocked out in the early rounds by Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam of Hong Kong. In the remaining tournaments in 2023, they were able to win the International Challenge titles in Scotland, Bahrain and Wales,[27] as well as finished runner-up in the Irish Open.[28]

2024

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Stoeva won her first international title in 2024 at the Azerbaijan International.[29] She and her partner reached the finals in the German Open, but lost to Chinese pair Li Yijing and Luo Xumin.[30] As the defending champion at the European Championships, Stoeva unable to defend their title after lost to French pair Margot Lambert and Anne Tran in the final.[31]

Achievements

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European Games

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Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2015 Baku Sports Hall,
Baku, Azerbaijan
  Stefani Stoeva   Ekaterina Bolotova
  Evgeniya Kosetskaya
21–12, 23–21   Gold
2023 Arena Jaskółka,
Tarnów, Poland
  Stefani Stoeva   Debora Jille
  Cheryl Seinen
21–7, 21–17   Gold

European Championships

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Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2017 Sydbank Arena,
Kolding, Denmark
  Stefani Stoeva   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl
11–21, 21–15, 11–21   Silver
2018 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín,
Huelva, Spain
  Stefani Stoeva   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–12, 21–10   Gold
2021 Palace of Sports,
Kyiv, Ukraine
  Stefani Stoeva   Chloe Birch
  Lauren Smith
21–14, 21–19   Gold
2022 Polideportivo Municipal Gallur,
Madrid, Spain
  Stefani Stoeva   Linda Efler
  Isabel Lohau
21–14, 21–10   Gold
2024 Saarlandhalle,
Saarbrücken, Germany
  Stefani Stoeva   Margot Lambert
  Anne Tran
21–16, 17–21, 11–21   Silver

European Junior Championships

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Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2013 ASKI Sport Hall, Ankara, Turkey   Stefani Stoeva   Julie Finne-Ipsen
  Rikke Søby Hansen
21–11, 21–18   Gold

BWF World Tour (8 titles, 7 runners-up)

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The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[32] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[33]

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Swiss Open Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Ayako Sakuramoto
  Yukiko Takahata
21–19, 15–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2018 Orléans Masters Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Delphine Delrue
  Léa Palermo
21–8, 21–14   Winner
2018 Dutch Open Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Selena Piek
  Cheryl Seinen
21–17, 21–18   Winner
2018 French Open Super 750   Stefani Stoeva   Mayu Matsumoto
  Wakana Nagahara
14–21, 19–21   Runner-up
2018 SaarLorLux Open Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani
  Rizki Amelia Pradipta
22–20, 15–21, 21–19   Winner
2018 Scottish Open Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–16, 21–9   Winner
2019 Dutch Open Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Rin Iwanaga
  Kie Nakanishi
21–10, 22–20   Winner
2020 Spain Masters Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Greysia Polii
  Apriyani Rahayu
21–18, 20–22, 17–21   Runner-up
2020 SaarLorLux Open Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Amalie Magelund
  Freja Ravn
21–8, 21–11   Winner
2021 Swiss Open Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Pearly Tan
  Thinaah Muralitharan
19–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2021 Orléans Masters Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Jongkolphan Kititharakul
  Rawinda Prajongjai
16–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2022 German Open Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan
16–21, 30–29, 19–21   Runner-up
2022 Swiss Open Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Linda Efler
  Isabel Lohau
21–14, 21–12   Winner
2022 Orléans Masters Super 100   Stefani Stoeva   Stine Küspert
  Emma Moszczyński
21–15, 21–14   Winner
2024 German Open Super 300   Stefani Stoeva   Li Yijing
  Luo Xumin
7–21, 21–13, 18–21   Runner-up

BWF Grand Prix (3 titles, 3 runners-up)

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The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2014 Brasil Open   Stefani Stoeva   Johanna Goliszewski
  Carla Nelte
5–11, 7–11, 11–4, 10–11   Runner-up
2014 Scottish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Heather Olver
  Lauren Smith
21–7, 21–15   Winner
2015 Russian Open   Stefani Stoeva   Johanna Goliszewski
  Carla Nelte
21–15, 21–17   Winner
2015 Dutch Open   Stefani Stoeva   Eefje Muskens
  Selena Piek
24–22, 21–15   Winner
2016 Dutch Open   Stefani Stoeva   Setyana Mapasa
  Gronya Somerville
21–17, 17–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2017 Swiss Open   Stefani Stoeva   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan
16–21, 15–21   Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (34 titles, 7 runners-up)

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Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2011 Turkiye Open   Stefani Stoeva   Alexandra Langley
  Lauren Smith
21–14, 16–21, 21–10   Winner
2012 Banuinvest International   Stefani Stoeva   Sandra-Maria Jensen
  Line Kjærsfeldt
19–21, 21–17, 16–21   Runner-up
2012 Bulgarian Hebar Open   Stefani Stoeva   Rumiana Ivanova
  Dimitria Popstoikova
15–21, 21–14, 21–11   Winner
2012 Bulgarian International   Stefani Stoeva   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
21–9, 21–17   Winner
2012 Turkey International   Stefani Stoeva   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
19–21, 21–14, 23–21   Winner
2013 Bulgarian Eurasia Open   Stefani Stoeva   Petya Nedelcheva
  Dimitria Popstoikova
11–21, 8–21   Runner-up
2013 Belgian International   Stefani Stoeva   Imogen Bankier
  Petya Nedelcheva
21–13, 11–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2013 Bulgarian International   Stefani Stoeva   Eva Lee
  Paula Lynn Obañana
21–15, 21–10   Winner
2013 Turkey International   Stefani Stoeva   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
21–15, 21–8   Winner
2014 Austrian International   Stefani Stoeva   Olga Golovanova
  Viktoriia Vorobeva
21–17, 20–22, 21–15   Winner
2014 Orléans International   Stefani Stoeva   Imogen Bankier
  Petya Nedelcheva
14–21, 7–21   Runner-up
2014 Finnish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Line Damkjær Kruse
  Marie Røpke
17–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2014 Slovenian International   Stefani Stoeva   Victoria Dergunova
  Olga Morozova
21–16, 21–17   Winner
2014 Spanish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Imogen Bankier
  Kirsty Gilmour
21–14, 21–9   Winner
2014 Swiss International   Stefani Stoeva   Meiliana Jauhari
  Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella
11–6, 11–5, 11–9   Winner
2014 Turkey International   Stefani Stoeva   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
21–11, 21–9   Winner
2015 Orléans International   Stefani Stoeva   Heather Olver
  Lauren Smith
22–20, 16–21, 21–9   Winner
2015 Spanish International   Stefani Stoeva   Anastasia Chervyakova
  Olga Morozova
21–16, 21–11   Winner
2015 Bulgarian International   Stefani Stoeva   Eva Lee
  Paula Lynn Obañana
21–14, 21–10   Winner
2015 Welsh International   Stefani Stoeva   Heather Olver
  Lauren Smith
21–10, 22–20   Winner
2015 Irish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Julie Finne-Ipsen
  Rikke Søby Hansen
21–10, 22–24, 21–9   Winner
2015 Italian International   Stefani Stoeva   Setyana Mapasa
  Gronya Somerville
21–19, 18–21, 13–6 retired   Winner
2015 Turkey International   Stefani Stoeva   Özge Bayrak
  Neslihan Yiğit
21–19, 21–12   Winner
2017 Bulgarian Open   Stefani Stoeva   Bengisu Erçetin
  Nazlıcan İnci
21–16, 21–12   Winner
2018 Bulgarian Open   Stefani Stoeva   Amalie Magelund
  Freja Ravn
21–16, 21–19   Winner
2019 Spanish International   Stefani Stoeva   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–8, 21–10   Winner
2019 Belgian International   Stefani Stoeva   Rachel Honderich
  Kristen Tsai
21–16, 21–15   Winner
2019 Italian International   Stefani Stoeva   Ekaterina Bolotova
  Alina Davletova
21–11, 21–14   Winner
2020 Bulgarian International   Stefani Stoeva   Maria Delcheva
  Hristomira Popovska
21–8, 21–9   Winner
2023 Scottish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Maiko Kawazoe
  Haruna Konishi
19–21, 21–11, 21–12   Winner
2023 Irish Open   Stefani Stoeva   Maiken Fruergaard
  Sara Thygesen
19–21, 21–17, 22–24   Runner-up
2023 Bahrain International   Stefani Stoeva   Kokona Ishikawa
  Mio Konegawa
21–19, 21–14   Winner
2023 Welsh International   Stefani Stoeva   Natasja P. Anthonisen
  Alyssa Tirtosentono
24–22, 21–11   Winner
2024 Azerbaijan International   Stefani Stoeva   Catherine Choi
  Josephine Wu
21–14, 21–7   Winner
2024 Bulgarian International   Stefani Stoeva   Tanya Ivanova
  Gergana Pavlova
21–5, 21–10   Winner
2024 Dutch Open   Stefani Stoeva   Chloe Birch
  Estelle van Leeuwen
21–15, 21–18   Winner
2024 (II) Bahrain International   Stefani Stoeva   Mysha Omer Khan
  Taabia Khan
21–6, 21–8   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2013 Bulgaria Eurasia Open   Anton Kaisti   Marvin Seidel
  Yvonne Li
19–21, 21–9, 21–18   Winner
2013 Turkey International   Anton Kaisti   Vasily Kuznetsov
  Viktoriia Vorobeva
21–9, 21–15   Winner
2014 Turkey International   Marcus Fernaldi Gideon   Jones Ralfy Jansen
  Cisita Joity Jansen
21–17, 17–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2024 (I) Bahrain International   Evgeni Panev   Aakash Ravikumar
  Sakshi Kurbkhelgi
21–14, 21–18   Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gabriela Stoeva Player Profile". BWF-Tournament Software. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. ^ Pavitt, Michael. "Badminton doubles delight for Bulgaria and Denmark as they secure first Baku 2015 European Games golds". Inside the Games. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  3. ^ Poghosyan, Lilit (3 May 2018). "Stoeva sisters: We will aim for top 5". Badminton People. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Badminton - STOEVA Gabriela". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Players: Gabriela Stoeva". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  6. ^ "European U17 Championships, Individuals". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Стефани Стоева с два златни медала на Евро 2013" (in Bulgarian). bTV. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Scottish Open 2014 Finals – The Lång-est match". Badzine. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Bulgarian Badminton Players Achieve Record Standing in Women's Doubles Ranking". Novinite. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Bulgaria's Stoevi Sisters Claim Gold at Women's Doubles Badminton in Baku". Novinite. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. ^ "The Stoeva sisters back in Basel". Swiss Open. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. ^ "England's golden day in Denmark". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  13. ^ Lollike, Emma (26 February 2018). "Germans and Danes on top in Switzerland". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  14. ^ Komsiyski, Dimitar (2 April 2018). "Сестри Стоеви грабнаха купата в Орлеан" (in Bulgarian). Marica. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Badminton players Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva qualify for BWF World Tour Finals 2018". Radio Bulgaria. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Indonesia's Greysia-Apriyani badminton pair secure Barcelona Spain Masters title". The Jakarta Post. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  17. ^ Raftery, Alan (16 September 2020). "Stoevas: Everything here is very strict". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  18. ^ Sukumar, Dev (2 November 2020). "SaarLorLux Open: Gilmour Breaks Title Drought". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  19. ^ Raftery, Alan (7 March 2021). "Kim Astrup/ Anders Rasmussen are back on top and Stoevas stunned in final". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  20. ^ Raftery, Alan (2 May 2021). "Stoevas secure second title". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Bulgaria at the Olympics: Stefani Stoeva, Gabriela Stoeva Win Their Last Match in Badminton Group Play Stage". Bulgaria News Agency. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Трета европейска титла за сестри Стоеви в Мадрид" (in Bulgarian). Marica. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^ Kumar, Prem (12 January 2023). "Malaysia Open: less fighting, more talking". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  24. ^ Tan, Ming Wai (13 January 2023). "A Malaysian washout at Malaysia Open". New Straits Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Калояна Налбантова продължава на полуфиналите на сингъл на турнир по бадминтон в Нидерландия". Pro News Dobrich. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  26. ^ "We have our first European Games 2023 badminton champions". Krakow-Małopolska 2024 3rd European Games official website. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Badminton: Stoeva sisters win their fourth doubles title of the year". Bulgarian National Radio. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  28. ^ Becerra, Gaia Diakhite (18 November 2023). "Battle of the youngsters". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Bulgarian badminton players Stefani Stoeva, Gabriela Stoeva win women's doubles title in Baku". Bulgarian News Agency. 11 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  30. ^ "German Open: Breakthrough Title for Christo Popov". Badminton World Federation. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Стефани Стоева и Габриела Стоева завоюваха сребърни отличия на двойки жени на Европейското първенство по бадминтон в Германия" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian News Agency. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  32. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  33. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
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