Bulgarian sisters aiming for Olympics after downing home favourites

KUALA LUMPUR - Bulgarian siblings Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva hope to build on their stunning start to the season in the ongoing 2023 Malaysia Open as they bid to secure a third consecutive Olympics qualification in Paris next year.

The world number 14 women’s doubles pair began their campaign by stunning home favourites Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the first round of the Malaysia Open at the Axiata Arena yesterday and are hoping the positive start is a signal of better things to come as they progress through the season.

"No negative thoughts, and because I get angry easily, so the target is to enjoy the game, to support my sister and play good. Our goal is to fight with the opponents, not against each other," said Gabriela, 28, the elder of the pair, when asked of their on-court relationship.

"Paris 2024 is our target, but we don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves. We will fight to win each match, we can’t say we will win every match, but definitely will give a good fight,” added Gabriela.

Yesterday, the Stoeva sisters eliminated world number six pair Pearly-Thinaah 21-19, 21-14, and are set to face Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela of India in the second round, tomorrow.

Commenting on the win, Stefani said they were surprised with the result over the Malaysians, especially after the latter enjoyed a better season in 2022 to break into the world’s top 10 and winning Commonwealth Games gold medal.

In their only meeting before this, Pearly-Thinaah had defeated the Stoeva sisters 21-19, 21-12 in the final to clinch the 2021 Swiss Open title. - BERNAMA