Two pairs of siblings succeeded in Eurasia Bulgarian Open 2018 this week; Stefani Stoeva and Gabriela Stoeva from Bulgaria in women’s doubles and Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov from France in men’s doubles.
The former is reigning European champions in women’s doubles and also returned to their home country for personal reasons.
- It’s always a pleasure to play at home. For us, it was important that we got chance to be back in Sofia and spend time with our family, Stefani Stoeva explains to Badminton Europe.
- Now when we know that we are #1 in Europe it’s a bit pressure on our shoulders, but we will continue with the hard work and want to make it bigger.
Double-up for eldest Popov
Toma Junior Popov won the men’s doubles with his younger brother Christo, and also managed to take the title in men’s singles. That final was a repetition of the 2017 European Junior Championships final, where Popov also was victorious.
The men’s doubles final was the only final with an Asian entry and the French Popov brothers were challenged into three games by Yu Jun Chen & Bing-Wei Lin from Chinese Taipei; 17-21, 21-7, 21-17.
Christo Popov will attempt to follow in his brothers’ footsteps when he goes to Tallinn for the 2018 European Junior Championships and had a good leadup from this tournament in Sofia.
Bulgaria took two titles
Another Bulgarian pair also reached glory in their home country. Mariya Mitsova and Alex Vlaar won the mixed doubles final against Anton Kaisti and Inalotta Suutarinen from Finland.
On their way to the final, the Bulgarians beat the first seeded English pair and Gabriela Stoeva and Jakub Bitman.
Mitsova spoke to Badminton Europe before the tournament started where she talked about the pressure to perform well when playing at home in front of friends and family. But nevertheless, she overcame that fear in her mixed doubles where she was celebrated as mixed doubles winner with Vlaar.
Final results for Eurasia Bulgarian Open 2018
WOMEN’S SINGLES
1. Neslihan Yigit [1] Turkey
2. Ozge Bayrak [6] Turkey
3/4. Natalia Perminova [5] Russia
3/4. Ksenia Polikarpova [2] Israel
MEN’S SINGLES
1. Toma Junior Popov [7] France
2. Arnuad Merkle – France
3/4. Zvonimir Durkinjak [5] Croatia
3/4. Mads Thøgersen – Denmark
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Stoeva & Stefani Stoeva [1] Bulgaria
2. Amalie Magelund & Freja Ravn [3] Denmark
3/4. Bengisu Ercetin & Nazlihan Inci [2] Turkey
3/4. Frederikke Lund & Signe Schulz – Denmark
MEN’S DOUBLES
1. Christo Popov & Toma Junior Popov – France
2. Yu Jun Chen & Bing-Wei Lin – Chinese Taipei
3/4. David Jones & Johnnie Torjussen – England
3/4. Matthew Clare & Steven Stallwood – England
MIXED DOUBLES
1. Alex Vlaar & Mariya Mitsova – Bulgaria
2. Anton Kaisti & Inalotta Suutarinen – Finland
3/4. Paul Reynolds & Rachael Darragh [2] Ireland
3/4. Jakub Bitman & Gabriela Stoeva – Czech Republic/Bulgaria