Bulgaria Builds New Team with Olympic Ambitions in Brisbane

  • May 19, 2026 | 18:27
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The Bulgarian women's national volleyball team held a traditional open training session in front of the media in Sofia’s "Levski Sofia" sports hall. The event was attended by the President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF), Lubomir Ganev, and the coordinator of the national teams, Nikolai Ivanov.

The goal set for the young Bulgarian team, led by selector Marcello Abondanza, is to qualify for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. President Ganev emphasized his belief in the team’s potential to achieve this goal.

Marcello Abondanza: We Need More Time and Patience

“As a team, you have ample time to work together to qualify for the largest sports forum. Build strong bonds among yourselves, help each other, and grow together. We, as a federation, will always strive to provide the best conditions for you,” Ganev stated.

Lubomir Ganev Sets Goal for Bulgaria's Women's Team: Qualify for 2032 Olympics

To achieve these long-term goals, European and world champions Kalina Veneva and Darina Naneva will only be part of the women's national team. This decision was made after analysis, similar to the approach taken with male national team player Simeon Nikolov.

World Champions Darina Naneva and Kalina Veneva Will Only Play for the Women's Team

The decision acknowledges the skills and development of the two players, which already meet the requirements and level of the women's national team. The goal is for Veneva and Naneva to continue their development in a high-demand environment.

Selector Marcello Abondanza noted that working with a group of young, talented players is both a pleasure and a responsibility, as the process requires a significant amount of patience.

Borislava Saykova: There Is Motivation to Prove Ourselves to the New Coach

“The team requires necessary patience. This situation has nothing in common with the period 13 years ago when I was a coach here, as Bulgaria then had more players with international experience. I will work on developing the team and have a strong desire to maintain our place among the world elite in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL),” Abondanza commented.

Coordinator of the national teams, Nikolai Ivanov, also called for building strong relationships within the team, believing in their potential, and mutual support.

The women’s national team will face three control matches against Sweden in the "Hristo Botev" hall on May 22, 23, and 24. The first two matches will be training sessions, while the third will be open to the public and broadcast live on Max Sport 1.

Jana Todorova Is the New Captain of Bulgaria

The new captain of the women's national team will be libero Jana Todorova, who inherits the captain’s armband from Christina Vuchkova, who wore it during the 2025 World Championship.