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.
Career
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
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
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
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
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
European Games
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
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
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)
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)
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 (38 titles, 10 runners-up)
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
|
| 2025 | Iran Fajr International | Gabriela Stoeva
|
Bengisu Erçetin Nazlıcan İnci
|
23–21, 21–16 | Winner
|
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
- BWF Future Series tournament
References
- ^ a b "Stefani Stoeva Player Profile". BWF-Tournament Software. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Poghosyan, Lilit (3 May 2018). "Stoeva sisters: We will aim for top 5". Badminton People. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Стефани Стоева еврошампионка по бадминтон" (in Bulgarian). Viasport.bg. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Scottish Grand Prix: Robert Blair & Imogen Bankier retain title". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, Stoeva sisters win Dutch Open". Badminton Planet. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Russian Open 2015 – 3 take first Grand Prix in 3 years". Badzine. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Stoeva sisters secure first Bulgarian gold". Baku 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Olympics-Badminton-Women's doubles Group D results". Reuters. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Yonex Swiss Open 2017: Big Wins in Basel". Yonex. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "England's golden day in Denmark". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Indonesia's Greysia-Apriyani badminton pair secure Barcelona Spain Masters title". The Jakarta Post. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Raftery, Alan (16 September 2020). "Stoevas: Everything here is very strict". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Sukumar, Dev (2 November 2020). "SaarLorLux Open: Gilmour Breaks Title Drought". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Raftery, Alan (7 March 2021). "Kim Astrup/ Anders Rasmussen are back on top and Stoevas stunned in final". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Raftery, Alan (2 May 2021). "Stoevas secure second title". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Трета европейска титла за сестри Стоеви в Мадрид" (in Bulgarian). Marica. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Prem (12 January 2023). "Malaysia Open: less fighting, more talking". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Tan, Ming Wai (13 January 2023). "A Malaysian washout at Malaysia Open". New Straits Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "We have our first European Games 2023 badminton champions". Krakow-Małopolska 2024 3rd European Games official website. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Badminton: Stoeva sisters win their fourth doubles title of the year". Bulgarian National Radio. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Becerra, Gaia Diakhite (18 November 2023). "Battle of the youngsters". Badminton Europe. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "German Open: Breakthrough Title for Christo Popov". Badminton World Federation. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
External links
- Stefani Stoeva at BWFBadminton.com
- Stefani Stoeva at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
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