Neli Boteva (, née Nedyalkova) (born 9 May 1974) is a

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...

player from

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

who participated in four Olympiads in women's doubles. She first competed in the 1992 SummerOlympics as Nelly Nedyalkova in the women's doubles event with Bulgarian partner Emilia Dimitrova, née Emmy Vlaar. They were defeated by Bożena Bąk & Wioletta Wilk from

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

in the round of 32 with 16-17, 8-15. Her second participation was at the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

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United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

with partner

Diana Koleva Diana Khristova Koleva-Tsvetanova (née Koleva, ; born 24 October 1959) is a Bulgarian former badminton player. She competed in three consecutive Badminton at the Summer Olympics, Summer Olympics in Badminton at the 1992 Summer Olympics, 1992 Ba ...

where they lost in the first round to Japanese duo Tomomi Matsuo and Masako Sakamoto with 0-15, 4-15. In 2000 as Neli Boteva she participated at the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

again with partner Diana Koleva. They were defeated by Chinese duo

Gao Ling Gao Ling (; born 14 March 1979) is a Chinese former badminton player. Career Noted for her consistency, anticipation, forecourt prowess, and sporting smile, Gao is one of the most successful doubles players in the history of women's badminton ...

and

Qin Yiyuan Qin Yiyuan (; born 14 February 1973) is a Chinese former world level badminton player. Qin played internationally for China from the mid-1990s through the 2000 Summer Olympics, a period during which her fellow countrywomen Ge Fei and Gu Jun dom ...

1-15, 9-15. Boteva also competed in the 2004 SummerOlympics in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

with partner

Petya Nedelcheva Petya Nedelcheva (; born 30 July 1983) is a Bulgarian badminton player. She was born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. At the Bulgarian National Badminton Championships she won more than 20 titles. Career A right-handed Nedelcheva became a professi ...

. They were defeated by Ella Tripp and Joanne Wright of

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

in the round of 32 in a close 15-17, 14-17 match. She won the

Bulgarian National Badminton Championships The Bulgarian National Badminton Championships is a tournament organized to crown the best badminton players in Bulgaria. They are held since 1985. The same year the junior championships and the Bulgarian International (badminton), Bulgarian Interna ...

three times in Women's singles in 1995, 1999 and 2003 and 5 times in Women's doubles in 1993, 1996, 2000, 2002 & 2004. The National mixed doubles title she only won once in 2002 with partner Boris Kessov.

References

* 1974 births Living people Bulgarian female badminton players German female badminton players Olympic badminton players for Bulgaria Badminton players at the 2004 Summer Olympics Badminton players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Badminton players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Badminton players at the 1992 Summer Olympics 20th-century German sportswomen 21st-century German sportswomen {{Bulgaria-badminton-bio-stub