Radio România Internațional

Tag: backstroke

Sports weekend

The World Swimming Championships drew to a close in Japan’s Fukukoa this
past Sunday. The Romanian delegation walked home with two medals, both won in
the competition’s high-diving events. Constantin
Popovici won gold, while Cătălin Preda, silver. All hopes were pinned on the
holder of the 200m freestyle European record as well as the 100m freestyle
world record holder, David Popovici. This time around, the Romanian failed to
step onto a step of the podium.

The World Fencing
Championships drew to a close in Milan, Italy. Romania sent a 15-strong delegation,
with 12 twelve fencers competing in the men’s events and 5 in the women’s events.
The delegation walked away with no medal. Best-placed was Mălina Călugăreanu, in the foil event, who came in 8th.
Apart from medals, the competition offered important points required for the qualification
to the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games in Paris.

As part of the Summer
Sports European Youth Olympic Festival that has been recently held in Slovenia’s
Maribor, Romania came in 4th in the nations’ competition in terms of
medals. The Romanian athletes won 9 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals. Five of the gold medals were provided by swimmers.
Robert Badea won the mixed 200 and 400m events, Aissia Prisăcariu won the 200m backstroke
event, while Daria Silişteanu won the 100m backstroke event. Added to that was
the gold medal won by the 4 by 100m women’s relay team. In judo, Tudor Moşoi won in the 60-kilogram category, while David Gliga won in the 73-kilogram category. Also
gold went to the mixed women’s relay team, in the 100, 200 300 and 400m races. A
gold medal winner was Alin Şavlovschi in the 2,000m steeplechase event.

The European Junior and U23 Weightlifting Championships will be held in Bucharest until
this coming Thursday. In the first week of the competition, the Romanian
weightlifters won 14 gold medals, of which 8 in the juniors category and 6 in
the U23 category of the competition.

In news from
football, this past weekend saw matches being played, counting towards the Romanian
Super League’s third round. On Friday, U Cluj grabbed a 4-3 away win against FC
U Craiova 1948, while in Bucharest, Rapid drew FC Botoşani, 2-all. In Sibiu on Saturday,
FC Hermannstadt defeated UTA Arad, 2-1, while in Galati FCSB defeated the local
side Oţelul, 2-nil. In Ovidiu on Sunday, the newly-promoted team Poli Iasi
succeeded a 3-1 away win against holders Farul Constanta, while in Cluj, CFR drew against Universitatea Craiova, 1-all. With 9 points, FCSB are at the top of the table, while CFR,
are second-placed, with 7.

31 July 2023
Athlete of the week

In the speed races, athletics or swimming,
records, more often than not, cannot be broken for dozens of years. In 2022,
Romanian swimmer David Popovici provided a stunning surprise breaking the 100m
freestyle world record set in 2009. However, there are national records that
lasted even longer, all the more so as, back in the day, they were set by top-flight
champions.

The most accomplished
Romanian swimmer, Diana Mocanu, in Pitesti, in 2002, set the national 50m
backstroke record. Diana clocked 28 seconds and 73 hundredths of a second. We recall
Diana Mocanu was a two-time Olympic champion in Sydney, in 2000, in the 100m
and 200m backstroke events. 21 years on, that is in last week’s European Juniors’
Swimming Championships in Belgrade, 14-year-old Daria Silisteanu won the first
50m backstroke semifinal, clocking 28 seconds and 59 hundredths of a second. Daria thus improved Romania’s national seniors’
record with 14 hundredths of a second. Then in the 50m backstroke final, Daria
Silisteanu broke her recently-set record, clocking 28 seconds and 46 hundredths
of a second and winning the bronze medal. Daria’s trail in the 100m backstroke event
was, again, way above par, since Daria walked home with the silver medal.

Reason
enough for Radio Romania
International to designate Daria Silisteanu the Athlete of the Week.

Daria Silişteanu was born in Fălticeni, eastern Romania. She is signed
up by Dinamo Bucharest Sports club. Daria’s coaches are Luis Lăcătuș and Adrian
Pinticanu. She compelled recognition in April 2023, when she won as many as 12
medals, at the National Swimming Championships in Otopeni. Among other things,
Daria won three national titles in the seniors, U-21 and Juniors’ categories,
in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke events.

11 July 2023
Sports flash

14-year-old
Romanian swimmer Daria Silisteanu has succeeded a recent national seniors’
record in the 50m backstroke event. As part of the European Juniors’ swimming Championships
in Belgrade on Tuesday, Daria Silisteanu clocked 28 and seconds 59 hundredths
of a second, that is 14 hundredths of a second better than the old record set
by two-time Olympic champion Diana Mocanu in 2002. On Wednesday, in the 50m
backstroke event final, Daria improved the record, clocking 28 seconds and 46 hundredths
of a second, thus winning the bronze medal.

In news from tennis, in Wimbledon, foul weather
did damage to the schedule of the year’s third Grand Slam tournament. Romania is represented only in the women’s version of the tournament’s main draw. The first Romanian tennis
players to have gone past the first round were Ana Bogdan, Sorana Cîrstea and Jaqueline Cristian. On Monday, Bogdan defeated 15th-seeded
player, Russia’s Lyudmila Samsonova, 7-6, 7-6. On Wednesday, Cristian outclassed
Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, 6-3, 6-4, while Cîrstea defeated the 2022 semifinalist,
Tatjana Maria of Germany, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

The Romanian football teams are currently finalizing
their summer training stage. In The Netherlands, in a friendly game, FCSB and PAOK
Thessalonica, a team head-coached by Razvan Lucescu, drew, 1-all. We recall
that in their first training stage this summer, FCSB sustained a 2-5 defeat by Anderlecht
Brussels.

In Austria on Wednesday, Dinamo Bucharest sustained
a 1-4 defeat by Dinamo Kyiv, a team head-coached by Mircea Lucescu. We recall that
in their previous friendly games, in Slovenia, Dinamo defeated Croat opponents Slaven
Belupo, 1-nil and lost to Hungarian team Zalaegerszeg, nil-1.

The other
Romanian team taking part in the training stage in Slovakia, Rapid Bucharest, sustained a 1-4 defeat by Slovan
Bratislava in Samorin. Previously, Rapid and Dunajska Streda drew, 1-all, then
secured a 1-nil win against Győr, thrashing FK Rača, 5-nil.

6 July 2023
Sports flash

14-year-old
Romanian swimmer Daria Silisteanu has succeeded a recent national seniors’
record in the 50m backstroke event. As part of the European Juniors’ swimming Championships
in Belgrade on Tuesday, Daria Silisteanu clocked 28 and seconds 59 hundredths
of a second, that is 14 hundredths of a seconds earlier than the old record set
by two-time Olympic champion Diana Mocanu in 2002. On Wednesday, in the 50m
backstroke event final, Daria improved the record clocking 28 seconds and 46 hundredths
of a second, thus winning the bronze medal.

In news from tennis, in Wimbledon, foul weather
did damage to the schedule of the year’s third Grand Slam tournament. Romanian
is represented only for the tournament’s main draw. The first Romanian tennis
players to have gone past the first round were Ana Bogdan, Sorana Cîrstea and Jaqueline Cristian. On Monday, Bogdan defeated 15th-seeded
player, Russia’s Lyudmila Samsonova, 7-6, 7-6. On Wednesday, Cristian outclassed
Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, 6-3, 6-4, while Cîrstea defeated the 2022 semifinalist,
Tatjana Maria of Germany, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

The Romanian football teams are currently finalizing
their summer training stage. In The Netherlands, in a friendly game, FCSB and PAOK
Thessalonica, a team head-coached by Razvan Lucescu, drew, 1-all. We recall
that in their first training stage this summer, FCSB sustained a 2-5 defeat by Anderlecht
Brussels.

In Austria on Wednesday, Dinamo Bucharest sustained
a 1-4 defeat by Dinamo Kyiv, a team head-coached by Mircea Lucescu. We recall that
in their previous friendly games, in Slovenia, Dinamo defeated Croat opponents Slaven
Belupo, 1-nil and lost to Hungarian team Zalaegerszeg, nil-1.

The other
Romanian team taking part in the training stage in Slovakia, Rapid Bucharest
sustained a 1-4 defeat by Slovan
Bratislava in Samorin. Previously, Rapid and Dunajska Streda drew, 1-all, then
secured a 1-nil win against Győr, thrashing FK Rača, 5-nil.

6 July 2023
Athlete of the week

David Popovici a couple of days ago has confirmed he was Romania’s best
swimmer. As part of the National Swimming Championships held in Otopeni nearby Bucharest,
Popovici won three of the four speed events, namely the freestyle event, the backstroke and the butterfly event. Actually, Popovici won six finals. He came in first
in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle, in the 100m backstroke
and in the 50m and 100m butterfly events. For the latter two events David Popovici
set a new national record. Also, in the 100m freestyle, an event in which he holds
the world record, Popovici met the qualification target set for the 2024
edition of the Olympic Games. Moreover,
David Popovici was a Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club team member, winning silver
in the men’s 4×100 mixed relay event. Reason enough for Radio Romania
International to designate David Popovici the Athlete of the week.

David Popovici was
born in Bucharest on September 15, 2004. He compelled recognition in juniors’ competitions. In the 2021 edition of the European Championships he won the 200m, 100m 50m
freestyle events, setting a world record in the 50m freestyle. Subsequently, Popovici
broke the world records in the 100m and 200m freestyle events. David qualified to
the Tokyo Olympics where he came in 4th in the 200m freestyle, being
two hundredths of a second away from stepping onto a step of the podium. In the
seniors’ competitions, David Popovici in Russia’s Kazan, in November, 2021 won
the European title in the 200m freestyle event. It was his first notable title
in his career.

As an absolute first
for Romanian sports, in June, 2022, David Popovici won gold in the 100m and
200m freestyle evens as part of the World Championship in Budapest. In August,
2022, at the European championship in Rome, Popovici set a new world record in
the 100m freestyle event, clocking 46 seconds and 86 hundredths of a second. He
was that close to setting a new world record in the European 200m final. David Popovici
clocked one minute, 47 seconds and 97 hundredths of a second, a new juniors’
world and European record, as well as a new record of the European Championship.

11 April 2023
Athlete of the week

David Popovici a couple of days ago has confirmed he was Romania’s best
swimmer. As part of the National Swimming Championships held in Otopeni nearby Bucharest,
Popovici won three of the four speed events, namely the freestyle event, the backstroke and the butterfly event. Actually, Popovici won six finals. He came in first
in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle, in the 100m backstroke
and in the 50m and 100m butterfly events. For the latter two events David Popovici
set a new national record. Also, in the 100m freestyle, an event in which he holds
the world record, Popovici met the qualification target set for the 2024
edition of the Olympic Games. Moreover,
David Popovici was a Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club team member, winning silver
in the men’s 4×100 mixed relay event. Reason enough for Radio Romania
International to designate David Popovici the Athlete of the week.

David Popovici was
born in Bucharest on September 15, 2004. He compelled recognition in juniors’ competitions. In the 2021 edition of the European Championships he won the 200m, 100m 50m
freestyle events, setting a world record in the 50m freestyle. Subsequently, Popovici
broke the world records in the 100m and 200m freestyle events. David qualified to
the Tokyo Olympics where he came in 4th in the 200m freestyle, being
two hundredths of a second away from stepping onto a step of the podium. In the
seniors’ competitions, David Popovici in Russia’s Kazan, in November, 2021 won
the European title in the 200m freestyle event. It was his first notable title
in his career.

As an absolute first
for Romanian sports, in June, 2022, David Popovici won gold in the 100m and
200m freestyle evens as part of the World Championship in Budapest. In August,
2022, at the European championship in Rome, Popovici set a new world record in
the 100m freestyle event, clocking 46 seconds and 86 hundredths of a second. He
was that close to setting a new world record in the European 200m final. David Popovici
clocked one minute, 47 seconds and 97 hundredths of a second, a new juniors’
world and European record, as well as a new record of the European Championship.

11 April 2023
Sports roundup

Romanian women’s handball team Rapid
Bucharest this past Sunday secured a most remarkable win in the Champ[ions
league’s Group B. On home court, holders Rapid outclassed the strong Hungarian
team Győr, 30 – 27. Rapid’s most efficient scorers were Sorina Grozav and Eliza
Buceschi, with 7 goals each. Rapid are 4th-placed in Group B, with
one point less than top-of-the-table team, Metz Handball of France. On Saturday, in the League’s Group A, CSM
Bucharest defeated Hungary’s Ferencvàros away from home, 33 – 29. With 6 goals
scored, Crina Pintea was CSM’s most efficient scorer.
CSM Bucharest are the runner-up team in the group, on a par with top-of-the-table
team, Norway’s Vipers Kristiansand. In the European League, only one Romanian
team reached as far as the competition’s group stage. In the second leg as part
of the third preliminary round, this past Sunday on home court SCM Râmnicu
Vâlcea grabbed a 32-24 win against Swedish opponents Höör.
We recall SCM had also defeated Höör. away from home, 31 – 24. Măgura Cisnădie and Gloria Buzău have been
eliminated from the competition.

The World
Weightlifting Championships are underway in Bogota, Colombia. Romania entered
four athletes in the women’s version of the competition and two other in the men’s
version of the championships. So far, only one athlete has won a medal for the
Romanian delegation. In the 49-kilogram category, Mihaela
Cambei walked away with silver in the snatch style.

In Melbourne, Australia, the Short Course Worlds kick-starts this coming
Tuesday. David Popovici, Robert Glinţă and Andrei Anghel are the three swimmers
representing Romania in the competition. In 2021, in Russia’s Kazan, Popovici won
gold in the 200m freestyle event. In was Romania’s first European title in a
short course competition. Also in short-course European competitions, Glinţă won
gold in the 100m backstroke event . Robert Glinta also won a bronze medal in
the 50m backstroke and two other bronze medals, in the 100m backstroke events. In
2021, Robert Glinta won bronze in the Short Course Worlds in Abu Dhabi, in the 100m backstroke
event.

Steaua Bucharest has
won The Romanian Cup in rugby. In this past Sunday’s final hosted by the
Triumphant Arch National rugby Stadium in Bucharest, Steaua outclassed holders
SCM Timisoara, 25-23. Steaua’s game against SCM was also the last match in international
rugby player Florin Vlaicu’s career. We recall Vlaicu is one of the world’s few
rugby players who scored more than 1,000 points for their national teams.

In news from football, as part of the
Romanian Superleague’s 20th round, on Friday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe and FC Voluntari drew,
1-all, one the former team’s turf. In Sibiu FC Hermannstadt grabbed a 4-nil win
against the leader, Farul Constanţa on Saturday. On Sunday, the match pitting U
Cluj against UTA ended in a blank draw, while CFR Cluj were held to a 1-all
draw by FC Botosani, on the latter team’s turf. Also on Sunday, in Ploiesti, FCSB
defeated Chindia Târgovişte 2-nil. On Wednesday, Rapid Bucharest take on
Petrolul Ploiesti. With 44 points, Farul are the leaders in the rankings. CFR
are the runner-up team, with 44 points. (EN)

12 December 2022
Sports roundup

Romanian women’s handball team Rapid
Bucharest this past Sunday secured a most remarkable win in the Champ[ions
league’s Group B. On home court, holders Rapid outclassed the strong Hungarian
team Győr, 30 – 27. Rapid’s most efficient scorers were Sorina Grozav and Eliza
Buceschi, with 7 goals each. Rapid are 4th-placed in Group B, with
one point less than top-of-the-table team, Metz Handball of France. On Saturday, in the League’s Group A, CSM
Bucharest defeated Hungary’s Ferencvàros away from home, 33 – 29. With 6 goals
scored, Crina Pintea was CSM’s most efficient scorer.
CSM Bucharest are the runner-up team in the group, on a par with top-of-the-table
team, Norway’s Vipers Kristiansand. In the European League, only one Romanian
team reached as far as the competition’s group stage. In the second leg as part
of the third preliminary round, this past Sunday on home court SCM Râmnicu
Vâlcea grabbed a 32-24 win against Swedish opponents Höör.
We recall SCM had also defeated Höör. away from home, 31 – 24. Măgura Cisnădie and Gloria Buzău have been
eliminated from the competition.

The World
Weightlifting Championships are underway in Bogota, Colombia. Romania entered
four athletes in the women’s version of the competition and two other in the men’s
version of the championships. So far, only one athlete has won a medal for the
Romanian delegation. In the 49-kilogram category, Mihaela
Cambei walked away with silver in the snatch style.

In Melbourne, Australia, the Short Course Worlds kick-starts this coming
Tuesday. David Popovici, Robert Glinţă and Andrei Anghel are the three swimmers
representing Romania in the competition. In 2021, in Russia’s Kazan, Popovici won
gold in the 200m freestyle event. In was Romania’s first European title in a
short course competition. Also in short-course European competitions, Glinţă won
gold in the 100m backstroke event . Robert Glinta also won a bronze medal in
the 50m backstroke and two other bronze medals, in the 100m backstroke events. In
2021, Robert Glinta won bronze in the Short Course Worlds in Abu Dhabi, in the 100m backstroke
event.

Steaua Bucharest has
won The Romanian Cup in rugby. In this past Sunday’s final hosted by the
Triumphant Arch National rugby Stadium in Bucharest, Steaua outclassed holders
SCM Timisoara, 25-23. Steaua’s game against SCM was also the last match in international
rugby player Florin Vlaicu’s career. We recall Vlaicu is one of the world’s few
rugby players who scored more than 1,000 points for their national teams.

In news from football, as part of the
Romanian Superleague’s 20th round, on Friday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe and FC Voluntari drew,
1-all, one the former team’s turf. In Sibiu FC Hermannstadt grabbed a 4-nil win
against the leader, Farul Constanţa on Saturday. On Sunday, the match pitting U
Cluj against UTA ended in a blank draw, while CFR Cluj were held to a 1-all
draw by FC Botosani, on the latter team’s turf. Also on Sunday, in Ploiesti, FCSB
defeated Chindia Târgovişte 2-nil. On Wednesday, Rapid Bucharest take on
Petrolul Ploiesti. With 44 points, Farul are the leaders in the rankings. CFR
are the runner-up team, with 44 points. (EN)

12 December 2022
Sports weekend

The Romanian Robert Glinta competes
in heats, in the 50m backstroke event at the World Swimming championships in
Budapest. At the ongoing edition of the world championships, Glinta came in 8th,
being placed at the bottom of the table in the 100m backstroke final. Glinta clocked
53 seconds 63 tenths of a second.

The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has advanced to the semifinals
of the Bad Homburg tournament. Halep defeated US opponent Amanda Anisimova, 6-2,
6-1. In the semifinals, Halep is pitted against Romanian-born Canadian
challenger Bianca Andreescu.

In Celje, Slovenia. In a Group E
fixture as part of the Under-20 World Women’s Handball, Romania takes on Lithuania.
In its debut game, Romania defeated Angola, 26-23. In the other Group E match,
The Czech Republic takes on Angola. On Saturday, the last group stage matches
are scheduled, as Romania takes on the Czech Republic and Angola faces
Lithuania.

63 competitors take the start in Harghita
Hill Climb Challenge, the hill climb speed racing national championship on
Saturday. The route to be taken is the road to Harghita Spa resort. It is 3. 682 kilometres long, that is 318 meters shorter than last year’s rally. The
winner will cash a cheque worth 500 Euro and will be awarded the King of the
Hill title.

In news from women’s football,
Romanian women’s national team on Friday takes on the similar team of Republic
of Moldova. Romanian team’s away fixture counts towards Group G as part of the
World Cup 2023 preliminaries. Italy is at the top of the table, with 21 points.
With 13 points, Romania is 3rd-palced. Moldova is at the bottom of the
table, with 0 points on its record sheet.

In the Under-19 European championship’s Group
A on Friday, Romania takes on Slovakia. Both teams have 0 points on their record
sheet. The first two teams in descending order are France and Italy, with 6
points each.

Romanian League One teams are preparing
for the new competition season. In Slovenia, UTA Arad will play a friendly game
against Bulgarian squad Marita Plovdiv. Also in Slovenia, title holders CFR
Cluj play Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade, while in Austria, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe
face Poland’s Legia Warsaw.

(EN)

24 June 2022
Sports weekend

The Romanian Robert Glinta competes
in heats, in the 50m backstroke event at the World Swimming championships in
Budapest. At the ongoing edition of the world championships, Glinta came in 8th,
being placed at the bottom of the table in the 100m backstroke final. Glinta clocked
53 seconds 63 tenths of a second.

The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has advanced to the semifinals
of the Bad Homburg tournament. Halep defeated US opponent Amanda Anisimova, 6-2,
6-1. In the semifinals, Halep is pitted against Romanian-born Canadian
challenger Bianca Andreescu.

In Celje, Slovenia. In a Group E
fixture as part of the Under-20 World Women’s Handball, Romania takes on Lithuania.
In its debut game, Romania defeated Angola, 26-23. In the other Group E match,
The Czech Republic takes on Angola. On Saturday, the last group stage matches
are scheduled, as Romania takes on the Czech Republic and Angola faces
Lithuania.

63 competitors take the start in Harghita
Hill Climb Challenge, the hill climb speed racing national championship on
Saturday. The route to be taken is the road to Harghita Spa resort. It is 3. 682 kilometres long, that is 318 meters shorter than last year’s rally. The
winner will cash a cheque worth 500 Euro and will be awarded the King of the
Hill title.

In news from women’s football,
Romanian women’s national team on Friday takes on the similar team of Republic
of Moldova. Romanian team’s away fixture counts towards Group G as part of the
World Cup 2023 preliminaries. Italy is at the top of the table, with 21 points.
With 13 points, Romania is 3rd-palced. Moldova is at the bottom of the
table, with 0 points on its record sheet.

In the Under-19 European championship’s Group
A on Friday, Romania takes on Slovakia. Both teams have 0 points on their record
sheet. The first two teams in descending order are France and Italy, with 6
points each.

Romanian League One teams are preparing
for the new competition season. In Slovenia, UTA Arad will play a friendly game
against Bulgarian squad Marita Plovdiv. Also in Slovenia, title holders CFR
Cluj play Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade, while in Austria, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe
face Poland’s Legia Warsaw.

(EN)

24 June 2022
Sports weekend

Romanian swimmer Robert Glinţă on Thursday won the gold
medal in the 100m backstroke event as part of the ongoing European Swimming
Championships in Budapest. Glinta set a new national record since he clocked 52
secs and 88 hundredths, We recall Glinta had also set the previous national
record, with 53 secs and 32 hundredths. The latter record was set by Glinta on
May 27, 2018. Robert Glinta has already secured his participation in the Tokyo Olympics
for the 100m backstroke event. Robert won his second medal in the European
competition held in Hungary, having walked away with silver in the 50m event. The
fact that Glinta walked home with gold in a seniors’ European swimming
championship, in the men’s version of the competition, is an absolute first for
Romania. Also, Glinta’s gold medal comes after a 17-year gap in Romania’s
swimming record. We recall that in Madrid, in 2004, Camelia Potec won gold in
the 200m freestyle event.

Robert Glinţă was born on April 18, 1997, in Piteşti. Robert
took up sports at a very early age. He first tried karate, then he took up
swimming. Glinta broke dozens of national records, in the children and junior
categories, but also in the seniors’ version of competitions nationwide. Robert
Glinta was the only Romanian swimmer to have reached as far as the finals at
the 2016 edition of the Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro. Robert’s best result
back then was the 8th place in the 100m backstroke event.

In news from football, this past Thursday, Academica
Clinceni grabbed a 2-1 home win against Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe. This was the last
fixture counting towards Group 1’s 9th round as part of League One
championship. One round before the end of the championship, Sepsi Sfantu
Gheorghe are 4th placed in the rankings, being 3 points behind the 3rd-placed
team, Universitatea Craiova. The team that in the final is 3rd-placed
will have a playoff fixture to gain access to the European Conference League.
The team will face the winner of the match pitting Chindia Târgovişte against Viitorul
Constanţa, two teams coming from the domestic championship’s Group 2. However,
Universitatea Craiova can have a faster access to European competitions. This
coming Saturday in the southern Romanian of Ploiesti, Universitatea Craiova
take on Astra Giurgiu, in Romanian Cup final. Should Universitatea Craiova win,
they will book their ticket for the Conference League, while Sepsi Sfantu
Gheorghe are sent into playoffs. For the first time since the
pandemic-generated restrictions have been put in place in our country, the Romanian
Cup final will be played with fans attending. As of this weekend, 25% of
sports arenas’ seating capacity is open to sports fans. Access is allowed to vaccinated
persons and to those who tested negative for coronavirus.

21 May 2021
Sports weekend

Romanian swimmer Robert Glinţă on Thursday won the gold
medal in the 100m backstroke event as part of the ongoing European Swimming
Championships in Budapest. Glinta set a new national record since he clocked 52
secs and 88 hundredths, We recall Glinta had also set the previous national
record, with 53 secs and 32 hundredths. The latter record was set by Glinta on
May 27, 2018. Robert Glinta has already secured his participation in the Tokyo Olympics
for the 100m backstroke event. Robert won his second medal in the European
competition held in Hungary, having walked away with silver in the 50m event. The
fact that Glinta walked home with gold in a seniors’ European swimming
championship, in the men’s version of the competition, is an absolute first for
Romania. Also, Glinta’s gold medal comes after a 17-year gap in Romania’s
swimming record. We recall that in Madrid, in 2004, Camelia Potec won gold in
the 200m freestyle event.

Robert Glinţă was born on April 18, 1997, in Piteşti. Robert
took up sports at a very early age. He first tried karate, then he took up
swimming. Glinta broke dozens of national records, in the children and junior
categories, but also in the seniors’ version of competitions nationwide. Robert
Glinta was the only Romanian swimmer to have reached as far as the finals at
the 2016 edition of the Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro. Robert’s best result
back then was the 8th place in the 100m backstroke event.

In news from football, this past Thursday, Academica
Clinceni grabbed a 2-1 home win against Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe. This was the last
fixture counting towards Group 1’s 9th round as part of League One
championship. One round before the end of the championship, Sepsi Sfantu
Gheorghe are 4th placed in the rankings, being 3 points behind the 3rd-placed
team, Universitatea Craiova. The team that in the final is 3rd-placed
will have a playoff fixture to gain access to the European Conference League.
The team will face the winner of the match pitting Chindia Târgovişte against Viitorul
Constanţa, two teams coming from the domestic championship’s Group 2. However,
Universitatea Craiova can have a faster access to European competitions. This
coming Saturday in the southern Romanian of Ploiesti, Universitatea Craiova
take on Astra Giurgiu, in Romanian Cup final. Should Universitatea Craiova win,
they will book their ticket for the Conference League, while Sepsi Sfantu
Gheorghe are sent into playoffs. For the first time since the
pandemic-generated restrictions have been put in place in our country, the Romanian
Cup final will be played with fans attending. As of this weekend, 25% of
sports arenas’ seating capacity is open to sports fans. Access is allowed to vaccinated
persons and to those who tested negative for coronavirus.

21 May 2021