Kaloyana Nalbantova has been delivering great results not only in the last few months but also since her junior career. She is one to watch at the 2026 European Championships.

In February, she was part of history with the Bulgarian women’s national team, winning the European Women’s Team Championships for the first time. She has since continued fighting on the European leg of the World Tour, continuing an already impressive career that has been promising since her junior years, where she won two titles at the European Junior Championships.

Now, at just 20 years old, Nalbantova is preparing for her third European Championships.
Her start to 2026 included competing at the Thailand Masters, a Super 300, and Azerbaijan International, an International Challenge tournament in the European Circuit. “They both weren’t my best tournaments…”

But things changed at the team event. “I had to play better and give more from myself on the court. I really tried my best back there and the results were positive.”

Her focus is clear for Huelva. “I’m preparing for the European Championship in Sofia, working hard with all my team, my conditional coach and of course my physio, so I can give my best at this stage.”

The team title in February remains a defining moment in her career and is helping her push for more ahead of the big event. “February was really special for the whole Bulgarian team because we got a historic victory. We are truly proud of our work together but unfortunately the attention in our sport in Bulgaria hasn’t increased much.”
“This title means more than just some medals. It means a lot more. It’s the best memory for me with the Bulgarian squad.”

In Istanbul, Nalbantova also got a huge win against reigning European champion Line Kjærsfeldt, a player she could potentially meet again in Huelva.

“It will be a good challenge. First of all, I’ll face the Czech fighter Petra [Maixnerová]. I expect a good fight against her. Let’s see how I’ll handle it and perform match by match. I’ll go on the court with even more desire for the victory and I’ll fight for it.”

Despite the high stakes, she remains calm. “I’ll not put too much pressure and behave like it’s a normal Super Series tournament.”

With more experience, Nalbantova will tackle this edition of the European Championships with a clearer perspective.

“The main thing for me that changed is that now I know it’s like a normal tournament as the others. If I put too much stress because it’s a European, it won’t work better for me. Every match is important as usual and I’ll try my best all the time.”

“Now everybody will push even harder against me but I’ll be ready. Let’s see how further I can get.”

You can watch Kaloyana Nalbantova and the rest of the European badminton top play on badmintoneurope.tv from 6-12 April.