The national team is already training in Sofia, a tournament in China and the selection of a new captain before the World Cup

The women's national team has begun preparations for the World Championship in Hristo Botev Hall, where they will remain until August 13. In the second stage, the team will travel to a friendly tournament in China (on August 16, 17, and 18), where they will compete against three other teams - Serbia, the Netherlands, and Canada.

For the upcoming World Cup, invitations were sent to 17 athletes.

Miroslava Paskova returns to the team, and four of our U19 world champions are also included in the squad - Kalina Veneva, Darina Naneva, Dimana Ivanova, and Viktoria Ninova. The World Championship will open on August 22, with Bulgaria playing in Group E, where they will face Turkey, Canada, and Spain.

The official information from the federation does not state who the other 12 athletes are. We took the trouble to identify the missing names.

Here are those training in 'Hristo Botev' Hall, with sessions held in two groups:

Setters:
Lora Kitipova – Rapid București
Dimana Ivanova – Levski Sofia

Middle blockers:
Nasya Dimitrova – Gunma Green Wings
Mariya Krivoshiyska – PAOK
Hristina Vuchkova – Proton-Saratov
Darina Naneva – Jedinstvo Stara Pazova
Aleksandra Saykova – CSKA

Outside hitters:
Miroslava Paskova – LOVB
Kalina Veneva – CPVC
Aleksandra Milanova – Free Agent
Emileta Racheva – OK Železničar
Iveta Stanchulova - CSKA

opposites:
Mikaela Stoyanova - Megabox Volley Vallefoglia
Merelin Nikolova - Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass
Radostina Marinova - Dinamo Bucharest

liberos:
Victoria Ninova - CSKA
Mila Pashkuleva - Maritsa

Of this squad, only Kalina Veneva, Miroslava Paskova, and Dimana Ivanova have not played in the VNL. Alex Milanova, Emileta Racheva, Iveta Stanchulova, and Mikaela Stoyanova participated in all three VNL tournaments.
As it has already become clear, our team will be without its captain, Elitsa Atanasijevic, at the World Championship. We are yet to find out which player will take over the captain's armband from her.

The day before the start of the championship - August 21 - a list of 12 to 14 players, who are on the 25-volleyball-player long-list submitted by us, must be provided.

photo:volleyballworld.com