The captain of the Bulgarian national team, Elitsa Atanasievich, will not participate in the FIVB Volleyball Women's U20 World Championship in Thailand. This was announced by the federation. According to official information from the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, the reasons for her absence are personal, and the volleyball player has informed both head coach Antonina Zetova and the federation's management of her decision.
🔁 Remains part of future plans
Atanasievich, who returned to play after maternity leave and played a key role in the first two tournaments of the Nations League this summer, will not interrupt her career. The federation emphasizes that she remains part of the national team and will be available for future seasons. The management expressed special gratitude for her efforts and looks forward to her return to play in 2026.
Preparation for the World Championship
The Bulgarian national team has already begun its preparations for the World Championship in Hristo Botev Hall, where it will train until August 13. In the second part of the camp, from August 16 to 18, the team will participate in a friendly tournament in China, where it will face:
Serbia
Netherlands
Canada
📋 Squad for the World Championship – new and returning players
Call-ups have been sent to17 competitors, with several important names standing out:
Miroslava Paskovareturns to the team
Also included arefour U19 world champions:
Kalina Veneva
Darina Naneva
Dimana Ivanova
Victoria Ninova
📅 Group stage program
Bulgaria will play inGroup Eof the World Championship, where they will meet the following opponents:
Turkey
Canada
Spain
The first whistle of the tournament will be given onAugust 22.
📝 Comment
The absence of Elitsa Atanasievich is certainly a serious blow to the ambitions of the Bulgarian team, especially given her leadership role and experience in key matches. The good news is the return of former captain Miroslava Paskova, as well as the inclusion of young, promising players who will be able to gain valuable international experience. The tournament in China will be an excellent opportunity to prepare before the start of the World Cup.
photo:volleyballworld.com
