Stefani Stoeva (Bulgarian: Стефани Стоева; born 23 September 1995) is a Bulgarian badminton player specializing in doubles. Her current partner is her older sister, Gabriela Stoeva. They competed at the 2016, 2020 and the 2024 Summer Olympics.[2] The duo together have won gold medals in the 2015 and 2023 European Games and also three successive European Championships in 2018, 2021 and 2022 editions.[3][4] Stefani Stoeva has also won some individual titles in women's singles competition.

Stefani Stoeva
Personal information
CountryBulgaria
Born (1995-09-23) 23 September 1995 (age 29)[1]
Galabovo, Bulgaria[1]
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Years active2009–present
HandednessRight
Women's doubles
Highest ranking8 (with Gabriela Stoeva 8 November 2018)
Current ranking18 (with Gabriela 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 singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Ankara Women's doubles
BWF profile

Career

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Stefani playing with her sister, Gabriela

Stoeva started playing badminton at age 9 at the Haskovo School Club in 2007. She won gold medals at the U17 European Championships in the girls' singles and doubles.[5] At the 2014 Scottish Open Grand Prix, she won in the women's doubles event, partnered with Gabriela Stoeva. They beat Heather Olver and Lauren Smith of England in the finals round with the score 21-7, 21-15.[6]

In 2015, she won the Dutch Open in women's doubles against the top seeds, World No.7 Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek of Nederlands with the score 24–22, 21–15 in the final.[7] She won the Russian Open against Johanna Goliszewski and Carla Nelte of German 21–15, 21–17.[8] She competed in the European Games, and won gold in the women's doubles alongside her sister.[9]

In 2016, Stoeva competed at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, but did not advance to the knocked-out stage after placing third in the group D stage.[10]

In 2017, she became the women's doubles runner-up at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold. They lost to China pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan with the score 16–21, 15–21.[11] The sisters also won the silver medal at the European Championships.[12]

2020–2021: Second European Championships title

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Stefani and her partner Gabriela 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.[13] 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,[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] The duo competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but were eliminated in the group stage.[18]

2022: 3rd European Championships title

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Stefani and her partner Gabriela 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.[19]

Stefani and Gabriela ended the year on poor form, exiting four of their final six tournaments in the first round. Her sister, Gabriela, stated that their partnerships were lost communication on court, only arguing, and the energy around them was pretty negative.[20]

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 Gabriela was being quarter-finalists in the Malaysia, India and the German Opens.[21] Stefani and Gabriela 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.[22] 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,[23] as well as finished runner-up in the Irish Open.[24]

2024

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Stoeva won her first international title in 2024 at the Azerbaijan International.[25] She and her partner reached the finals in the German Open, but lost to Chinese pair Li Yijing and Luo Xumin.[26] 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.[27]

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
  Gabriela Stoeva   Ekaterina Bolotova
  Evgeniya Kosetskaya
21–12, 23–21   Gold
2023 Arena Jaskółka,
Tarnów, Poland
  Gabriela 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
  Gabriela Stoeva   Christinna Pedersen
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl
11–21, 21–15, 11–21   Silver
2018 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín,
Huelva, Spain
  Gabriela Stoeva   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–12, 21–10   Gold
2021 Palace of Sports,
Kyiv, Ukraine
  Gabriela Stoeva   Chloe Birch
  Lauren Smith
21–14, 21–19   Gold
2022 Polideportivo Municipal Gallur,
Madrid, Spain
  Gabriela Stoeva   Linda Efler
  Isabel Lohau
21–14, 21–10   Gold
2024 Saarlandhalle,
Saarbrücken, Germany
  Gabriela Stoeva   Margot Lambert
  Anne Tran
21–16, 17–21, 11–21   Silver

European Junior Championships

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Girls' singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2013 ASKI Sport Hall, Ankara, Turkey   Line Kjærsfeldt 21–13, 23–25, 21–19   Gold

Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2013 ASKI Sport Hall, Ankara, Turkey   Gabriela 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,[28] 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.[29]

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Level Opponent Score Result
2018 Swiss Open Super 300   Gabriela Stoeva   Ayako Sakuramoto
  Yukiko Takahata
21–19, 15–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2018 Orléans Masters Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Delphine Delrue
  Léa Palermo
21–8, 21–14   Winner
2018 Dutch Open Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Selena Piek
  Cheryl Seinen
21–17, 21–18   Winner
2018 French Open Super 750   Gabriela Stoeva   Mayu Matsumoto
  Wakana Nagahara
14–21, 19–21   Runner-up
2018 SaarLorLux Open Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani
  Rizki Amelia Pradipta
22–20, 15–21, 21–19   Winner
2018 Scottish Open Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Émilie Lefel
  Anne Tran
21–16, 21–9   Winner
2019 Dutch Open Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Rin Iwanaga
  Kie Nakanishi
21–10, 22–20   Winner
2020 Spain Masters Super 300   Gabriela Stoeva   Greysia Polii
  Apriyani Rahayu
21–18, 20–22, 17–21   Runner-up
2020 SaarLorLux Open Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Amalie Magelund
  Freja Ravn
21–8, 21–11   Winner
2021 Swiss Open Super 300   Gabriela Stoeva   Pearly Tan
  Thinaah Muralitharan
19–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2021 Orléans Masters Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Jongkolphan Kititharakul
  Rawinda Prajongjai
16–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2022 German Open Super 300   Gabriela Stoeva   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan
16–21, 30–29, 19–21   Runner-up
2022 Swiss Open Super 300   Gabriela Stoeva   Linda Efler
  Isabel Lohau
21–14, 21–12   Winner
2022 Orléans Masters Super 100   Gabriela Stoeva   Stine Küspert
  Emma Moszczyński
21–15, 21–14   Winner
2024 German Open Super 300   Gabriela 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   Gabriela Stoeva   Johanna Goliszewski
  Carla Nelte
5–11, 7–11, 11–4, 10–11   Runner-up
2014 Scottish Open   Gabriela Stoeva   Heather Olver
  Lauren Smith
21–7, 21–15   Winner
2015 Russian Open   Gabriela Stoeva   Johanna Goliszewski
  Carla Nelte
21–15, 21–17   Winner
2015 Dutch Open   Gabriela Stoeva   Eefje Muskens
  Selena Piek
24–22, 21–15   Winner
2016 Dutch Open   Gabriela Stoeva   Setyana Mapasa
  Gronya Somerville
21–17, 17–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2017 Swiss Open   Gabriela Stoeva   Chen Qingchen
  Jia Yifan
16–21, 15–21   Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (37 titles, 10 runners-up)

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Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2011 Hungarian International   Camilla Sørensen 23–21 21–14   Winner
2012 Bulgarian Hebar Open   Alesia Zaitsava 17–21, 21–18, 10–21   Runner-up
2012 Bulgarian International   Petya Nedelcheva 9–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2013 Indonesia International   Dinar Dyah Ayustine 21–13, 15–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2013 Bulgarian Eurasia Open   Linda Zetchiri 21–16, 21–18   Winner
2013 Turkey International   Neslihan Yiğit 14–21, 21–16, 21–19   Winner
2014 Slovenian International   Soraya de Visch Eijbergen 21–18, 21–14   Winner
2014 White Nights   Petya Nedelcheva 14–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2024 Bulgarian International   Gergana Pavlova 18–21, 21–15, 21–8   Winner
2024 Egypt International   Yasmine Hamza 21–10, 22–20   Winner

Women's doubles

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "Stefani Stoeva Player Profile". BWF-Tournament Software. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Badminton - STOEVA Stefani". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Poghosyan, Lilit (3 May 2018). "Stoeva sisters: We will aim for top 5". Badminton People. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Стефани Стоева еврошампионка по бадминтон" (in Bulgarian). Viasport.bg. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Scottish Grand Prix: Robert Blair & Imogen Bankier retain title". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, Stoeva sisters win Dutch Open". Badminton Planet. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Russian Open 2015 – 3 take first Grand Prix in 3 years". Badzine. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Stoeva sisters secure first Bulgarian gold". Baku 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Olympics-Badminton-Women's doubles Group D results". Reuters. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Yonex Swiss Open 2017: Big Wins in Basel". Yonex. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ "England's golden day in Denmark". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Indonesia's Greysia-Apriyani badminton pair secure Barcelona Spain Masters title". The Jakarta Post. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  14. ^ Raftery, Alan (16 September 2020). "Stoevas: Everything here is very strict". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  15. ^ Sukumar, Dev (2 November 2020). "SaarLorLux Open: Gilmour Breaks Title Drought". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  16. ^ Raftery, Alan (7 March 2021). "Kim Astrup/ Anders Rasmussen are back on top and Stoevas stunned in final". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  17. ^ Raftery, Alan (2 May 2021). "Stoevas secure second title". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Трета европейска титла за сестри Стоеви в Мадрид" (in Bulgarian). Marica. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  20. ^ Kumar, Prem (12 January 2023). "Malaysia Open: less fighting, more talking". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  21. ^ Tan, Ming Wai (13 January 2023). "A Malaysian washout at Malaysia Open". New Straits Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  22. ^ "We have our first European Games 2023 badminton champions". Krakow-Małopolska 2024 3rd European Games official website. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Badminton: Stoeva sisters win their fourth doubles title of the year". Bulgarian National Radio. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  24. ^ Becerra, Gaia Diakhite (18 November 2023). "Battle of the youngsters". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "German Open: Breakthrough Title for Christo Popov". Badminton World Federation. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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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