Gabriela Stoeva

Career

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. In 2009, she won a bronze medal at the European U-17 Championships in the girls' doubles event partnered with her sister, Stefani Stoeva. And at the 2013 European U-19 Championships, the sister won the gold medal.

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. In 2015, she also won the Grand Prix tournament at the Russian and Dutch Open. Stoeva competed in the 2015 European Games, winning gold in women's doubles alongside her younger sister

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. The sisters also won the silver medal at the European Championships.

2018–2019: First ever Bulgarian to win the European Championships title Gabriela started the 2018 season by finished as women's doubles runner-up in the Swiss Open with her sister Stefani. They then won their first title of the year in the Orléans Masters. 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.

2020–2021: Second European Championships title 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. 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, 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.

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. 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. The duo competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but were eliminated in the group stage.

2022: 3rd European Championships title 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.

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.

2023: Second European Games gold 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. Gabriela tried to partner with young player, Kaloyana Nalbantova, and was able to reach the quarter-finals in the Dutch International.

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. 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, as well as finished runner-up in the Irish Open.

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

Achievements

European Games 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 Gold 2023 Arena Jaskółka, Tarnów, Poland Stefani Stoeva Debora Jille Cheryl Seinen 21–7, 21–17 Gold Gold

European Championships 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 Silver 2018 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain Stefani Stoeva Émilie Lefel Anne Tran 21–12, 21–10 Gold Gold 2021 Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Ukraine Stefani Stoeva Chloe Birch Lauren Smith 21–14, 21–19 Gold Gold 2022 Polideportivo Municipal Gallur, Madrid, Spain Stefani Stoeva Linda Efler Isabel Lohau 21–14, 21–10 Gold Gold 2024 Saarlandhalle, Saarbrücken, Germany Stefani Stoeva Margot Lambert Anne Tran 21–16, 17–21, 11–21 Silver Silver 2025 Forum, Horsens, Denmark Stefani Stoeva Natasja Anthonisen Maiken Fruergaard 21–11, 21–16 Gold Gold 2026 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain Stefani Stoeva Bengisu Erçetin Nazlıcan İnci 21–11, 21–17 Gold Gold

European Junior Championships 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 Gold

BWF World Tour (10 titles, 8 runners-up) The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, 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.

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 2025 German Open Super 300 Stefani Stoeva Miyu Takahashi Mizuki Otake 17–21, 22–20, 12–21 Runner-up 2025 Al Ain Masters Super 100 Stefani Stoeva Chen Yan-fei Sun Liang-ching 21–8, 21–13 Winner 2025 Odisha Masters Super 100 Stefani Stoeva Ong Xin Yee Carmen Ting 21–19, 21–14 Winner

BWF Grand Prix (3 titles, 3 runners-up) 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 Smith21–7, 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 (38 titles, 7 runners-up) 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 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 2025 Iran Fajr International Stefani Stoeva Bengisu Erçetin Nazlıcan İnci 23–21, 21–16 Winner 2025 Italian Open Stefani Stoeva Bengisu Erçetin Nazlıcan İnci 21–19, 21–14 Winner 2025 Belgian International Stefani Stoeva Julie MacPherson Ciara Torrance 21–14, 21–12 Winner 2025 Turkey International Stefani Stoeva Bengisu Erçetin Nazlıcan İnci 21–10, 21–19 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