After winning Group 3 in 2014, coach Dragan Nesic's side can look forward to action in Group 2 as they strive to build on the success of the last few years. In their only previous World Grand Prix in 2013 they ended ninth. Last year they finished second in the Intercontinental Round of Group 3, before victories against Kazakhstan and Czech Republic on home soil in Samokov saw them win promotion for this year’s edition.
Last September, coach Kuzyutkin, who led Russia’s women to gold at the 2010 World Championship and silver at the 2009 World Grand Prix, took Bulgaria to their first World Championship since 2002 and helped them to a final standing of equal-11th. Despite losing their first two pool matches, three straight wins got them through to the second round before elimination. In 2013, Bulgaria claimed their third bronze medal in the European League and a fifth consecutive appearance on the podium. They won the silver medal in 2010 and 2012.
They have competed in the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, already this season. But their greatest successes came more than three decades ago when they took the bronze medal at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games and gold at the 1981 European Championship.