Tag: fencing

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Romanian fencers throughout the years scooped 17 medals. The first Romanian athlete to have stepped onto a step of the Olympic podium was Olga Orbán Szabó. In Melbourne, in 1956, Olga won silver in women’s individual foil event. In Tokyo, in 2021, Ana Maria Branza won also silver, this time in the epee event. The record includes 15 other medals, of which four gold.

    The first gold medallist was Ionel Dramba in Ciudad de Mexico, in 1968, in the foil event. Then there was Laura Badea, in Atlanta, in 1996, also in the foil event. Then there were Mihai Covaliu, in Atlanta, in 2000, the sabre event and the women’s epee team in Rio, in 2016.

    In recent years, the seniors’ record was rather lackluster. However, a new generation comes from behind. Recently, at the European Fencing Championships for juniors and cadets in Turkey’s Antalya, Romania has won five medals. In the juniors’ event, the Romanian saber team made of Rosemarie Benciu, Amalia Covaliu, Catinca Dumitru and Anastasia Fusea stepped onto the highest step of the podium.

    In the men’s saber event, Vlad Covaliu won silver. Also silver went to Emma Sont, in the women’s epee event. In the cadets’ competition, Amalia Covaliu won silver in the sabre event, while Natalia Constantin walked away with bronze in the epee event.

    Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Amalia Covaliu the Athlete of the week, since she was the Romanian lineup’s only fencer to have won two medals.

    Amalia Covaliu is the daughter of Olympic champion Mihai Covaliu, the current president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. She was born on March 25th, 2008. As part of the first European cadets’ championship of her career, hosted by Estonia’s Tallinn, Amalia succeeded her first major performance, walking away with silver. In the final, Amalia Covaliu conceded defeat to Hungarian challenger Emese Domokos, 10-15. In Turkey, in 2025, Amalia again reached as far as the final, sustaining yet another defeat by Italy’s Francesca Lentini, 15-11.

    In the juniors’ team final held in France, Amalia Covaliu was the first one to step on the plank where she was outclassed by Rita Robineaux, 5-3. Amalia’s colleagues Catinca Dumitru and Anastasia Fusea were also overpowered, so France had the upper hand, securing a 20-14 advantage. Amalia Covaliu returned and gave the signal for the team’s vigorous comeback.

    After three more assaults, Romania had the advantage. Until the end, the Romanians won every assault. The last fencer on the plank was Amalia Covaliu, who also set the final score: 45 to 37 for Romania.

  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup

     

    Romania won five medals at the European Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships 2025 in Antalya, Turkey. In the juniors category, the women’s sabre team, comprising Rosemarie Benciu, Amalia Covaliu, Catinca Dumitru and Anastasia Fusea, have won the gold, while in men’s sabre Vlad Covaliu won the silver, as did Emma Şonţ, in the women’s epee. In the cadet competitions, Amalia Covaliu won the silver medal in sabre, and Natalia Constantin won the bronze in epee.

     

    Romania’s rugby team lost the semi-final of the Rugby Europe Championship, which it played away from home against Georgia on Sunday. Georgia won 43-5, and also secured the Antim Ivireanu Cup, a trophy reflecting the results of the direct matches between the 2 teams. In the other semi-final, Portugal lost to Spain, 42-31, on Saturday, in Lisbon. Georgia and Spain will thus fight for the trophy, while Romania and Portugal will compete for third place, in the finals scheduled for Saturday, March 15. The 2 teams have already faced each other in the current edition of the competition, in the group stage, in Botoşani. Portugal won 34-6. Romania’s qualification for the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Championship after victories against Germany and Belgium in the group stage, secured the country’s ticket for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Australia.

     

    Over the weekend, matches were held counting for the 29th round of the Romanian football Super League, the last but one in the regular season. On Friday, in Clinceni, Oţelul Galaţi defeated Unirea Slobozia 1-0, while in Sfântu Gheorghe Sepsi OSK tied 1-all against CFR Cluj. On Saturday, FC Botoşani pulled off the surprise of the round, beating Universitatea Cluj 1-0 away from home. Universitatea Craiova also won 1-0 in the home game against Farul Constanţa. On Sunday, in Iaşi, Politehnica defeated Petrolul Ploieşti 1-0, and the derby of the round, pitting the Bucharest-based teams Rapid and FCSB, ended in a goalless draw. The last two matches of the round, Gloria Buzău vs UTA and Dinamo București vs Hermannstadt, are due on Monday. In the standings, FCSB are in first place, with 53 points, followed by Universitatea Craiova, with 52 points. (AMP)

  • Sports Roundup

    Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan won Saturday the WTA tournament in Parma, Italy. Seed no. 2, Bogdan defeated in the final Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia, 7-5, 6-1.



    This past weekend was not the best one for the womens handball teams representing Romania in the Champions League. On Saturday, CSM Bucharest lost at home, 23 to 27, to the Hungarian team Győr. The Romanian champion is, after three stages, in 5th place in Group A, with 2 points, after one win and two defeats. Rapid Bucharest also had one win and two defeats, in Group B. The Romanian vice-champion was defeated, in Bucharest on Sunday by the Danish team Ikast, 35 to 27. With two points, Rapid is 6th placed in the group.



    Romania did not manage to win any medals at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade and none of its athletes managed to qualify to the Olympic Games in Paris following this competition. Romania participated in the competition in Serbia with 16 athletes.



    American fencer Zander Rhoades won the foil event of the Tudor Petruş Memorial, a satellite tournament of the World Cup, held on Sunday in Timisoara. She defeated the Italian Carlotta Ferrari in the final, 15-11. Romanian Emilia Corbu and the Ukrainian Alina Poloziuk came next.



    Over the weekend, matches counting for the 10th stage of the Romanian Superleague championship were held. On Friday, Oţelul Galati beat FC U Craiova 2-0 away. Also away and also with 2-0, Farul Constanţa beat Dinamo Bucharest. On Saturday, Poli Iaşi won in Voluntari 2-1, then FC Botoşani ended the match played on home turf with UTA in a tie, with two goals each. The last match of the day, between Universitatea Cluj and Universitatea Craiova, held in Cluj, ended in a draw: 1 – 1. No goals were scored Sunday in the match pitting Petrolul Ploiesti against Hermannstadt. On Sunday, FCSB beat Sepsi in Sfântu Gheorghe, 5-2. Monday, in Bucharest, the last game of the stage is taking place, pitting Rapid Bucharest against CFR Cluj. FCSB leads the ranking, with 25 points, followed by CFR with 19.


  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    The World Swimming Championships are underway in Fukukoa, Japan. The Romanian swimmers who have competed so far have succeeded lacklustre results. All hopes are pinned on diver Constantin Popovici and on David Popovici, who competes in the freestyle event. Constantin Popovici is the European high-diving champion. He competes on Friday, jumping off the 10-meter platform, while the high-diving event is scheduled next week. The defending 100m and 200m freestyle world champion David Popovici competes next week as well.



    The World U-23 Rowing Championships are underway in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The Romanian womens quadruple sculls crew was the first Romanian crew to have advanced to the finals. The crew was made of Emanuela-Ioana Ciotău, Alexandra Ungureanu, Cristina Drugă and Patricia Cireş. At the 2022 edition of the World Youth Championships held in Varese, Italy, Romania walked away with three medals: gold in the womens double scull, silver in the womens quadruple sculls and bronze in mens pair events.



    In news from womens volleyball, Romanian title holders Romanian title holders Alba Blaj will play in the Champions Leagues 2nd preliminary round, according to the drawing of lots carried in Luxembourg this past Wednesday. Volei Alba Blaj go against Kralovo Pole Brno, of the Czech Republic, Gran Canaria of Spain and Hapoel Kfar Saba of Israel. The fixtures are scheduled in October. The first two teams in descending order advance to the second preliminary round, to be held as a tournament.



    In the Champions Leagues first preliminary round, Romanian mens volleyball champion team, Arcada Galaţi, has been included in a three-team group, alongside Croatias Mladost Zagreb and Guaguas Las Palmas of Spain. The first two teams in descending order advance to the second qualifying round.



    The World Fencing Championships kick-start in Milan at the weekend. Apart from medals, the competition offers important points for the qualification to the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games in Paris. Romania has entered a 15-strong delegation for the coopetition, of which 12 girls and 5 boys. In the womens version of the championships Romania will have three complete teams for all three events, while in the mens version, Romania will only have a complete team in the sabre event.


  • Sports Weekend

    Sports Weekend

    Romania’s national football side on Friday takes on the selection of
    Kosovo in an away game counting towards the Group 1 of the Euro 2024
    qualifiers. On June 19, the Romanian footballers will be up against Switzerland
    in the same group.




    This weekend the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, is hosting the European
    Fencing Championships right ahead the upcoming European Games in Poland.


    The competition in Plovdiv is important because athletes here can get
    points, which will enable them to qualify for the Olympics of 2024, whereas the
    European Games bring points only to the national teams. Romania is being
    represented by its male and female fencers in several contests such as saber,
    epee and foil.




    In
    the Group B of the Golden League competition in women’s volleyball, the
    Romanian national side will be taking on Slovakia in an away match. The Czech
    Republic tops the group with 9 points, followed by Romania and Slovakia each
    with three points. The first side in the group qualifies for the Final Four
    tournament, as well as the best of the runners up. In a runners-up ranking
    Romania is third after Sweden and France.




    In a
    game held on Wednesday in Brasov, central Romania, the country’s male
    volleyball side obtained its second win in group A of the Golden League,
    against Denmark, 3-1. Alexandru Rata proved to be the best Romanian player on
    the ground with 22 points scored. In the same group, Turkey outperformed
    Portugal 3-1. Romania will be up against Portugal on June 18, also in Brasov,
    while Turkey will receive the visit of Denmark on Saturday. Turkey tops the
    ranking with 8 points followed by Portugal with 7, Denmark with 6 and Romania
    also with 6. The groups’ winners and the organizers will qualify for the Final
    Four tournament due in Croatia.

    (bill)

  • Sports Weekend

    Sports Weekend

    Romania’s national football side on Friday takes on the selection of
    Kosovo in an away game counting towards the Group 1 of the Euro 2024
    qualifiers. On June 19, the Romanian footballers will be up against Switzerland
    in the same group.




    This weekend the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, is hosting the European
    Fencing Championships right ahead the upcoming European Games in Poland.


    The competition in Plovdiv is important because athletes here can get
    points, which will enable them to qualify for the Olympics of 2024, whereas the
    European Games bring points only to the national teams. Romania is being
    represented by its male and female fencers in several contests such as saber,
    epee and foil.




    In
    the Group B of the Golden League competition in women’s volleyball, the
    Romanian national side will be taking on Slovakia in an away match. The Czech
    Republic tops the group with 9 points, followed by Romania and Slovakia each
    with three points. The first side in the group qualifies for the Final Four
    tournament, as well as the best of the runners up. In a runners-up ranking
    Romania is third after Sweden and France.




    In a
    game held on Wednesday in Brasov, central Romania, the country’s male
    volleyball side obtained its second win in group A of the Golden League,
    against Denmark, 3-1. Alexandru Rata proved to be the best Romanian player on
    the ground with 22 points scored. In the same group, Turkey outperformed
    Portugal 3-1. Romania will be up against Portugal on June 18, also in Brasov,
    while Turkey will receive the visit of Denmark on Saturday. Turkey tops the
    ranking with 8 points followed by Portugal with 7, Denmark with 6 and Romania
    also with 6. The groups’ winners and the organizers will qualify for the Final
    Four tournament due in Croatia.

    (bill)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romania has walked away with eight medals at the European Cadet and Juniors Fencing Championships that drew to a close in Estonian capital city Tallin on Tuesday. In the cadet version of the competition, the Romanian fencers won gold in the women’s teams sabre event and silver in the men’s teams event. Silver also went to Amalia Covaliu, in the individual women’s sabre event and to Casian Cidu, in the men’s event. Anastasia Fusea also stepped onto the third step of the podium in the women’s sabre event, winning bronze. In the Juniors’ version of the Championships, the tally was made of three medals. The men’s sabre team won gold, Amalia Stan won bronze in the women’s sabre event, and also bronze went to Casian Cidu, in the men’s sabre event. Romania entered 42 fencers in the competition, for all categories.



    At the World Artistic Gymnastics Cup in Qatar’s Doha this past Wednesday, after the first day of the qualifiers, the Romanian gymnast Sabrina Maneca Voinea secured a place in the vault final. Qualifiers are also held on Thursday, while the finals are scheduled on Friday and Saturday.



    In Turkyie’s Istanbul, the European Indoor Athletics Championships are held from Thursday and all through to Sunday. A 14-strong Romanian delegation takes part in the competition, with seven women and seven men competing. The Championships bring together almost 600 athletes from 47 countries. At the most recent edition of the indoor European championships held in the Polish city of Torun, in 2021, the best Romanian performance was provided by Daniela Stanciu who came in 5th in the high-jump event.



    In news from football, matches counting towards Romanian Super League’s 28th round have been scheduled this week. On Tuesday, in Sibiu, Universitatea Cluj defeated FC Hermannstadt, 1-nil. In Ploiesti, Chindia Târgovişte held FC U Craiova to a blank draw, while in Ovidiu in the south-east, Farul Constanţa defeated Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, 2-nil. On Wednesday, FC Voluntari defeated Dacia Mioveni, 3-nil, away from home, Universitatea Craiova grabbed a home win against FC Argeş, 1-nil, while Rapid Bucureşti defeated FC Botoşani, 2-1, away from home, Farul are the leader, with 61 points, while CFR are 2nd-placed, with 56. (EN)




  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romania has walked away with eight medals at the European Cadet and Juniors Fencing Championships that drew to a close in Estonian capital city Tallin on Tuesday. In the cadet version of the competition, the Romanian fencers won gold in the women’s teams sabre event and silver in the men’s teams event. Silver also went to Amalia Covaliu, in the individual women’s sabre event and to Casian Cidu, in the men’s event. Anastasia Fusea also stepped onto the third step of the podium in the women’s sabre event, winning bronze. In the Juniors’ version of the Championships, the tally was made of three medals. The men’s sabre team won gold, Amalia Stan won bronze in the women’s sabre event, and also bronze went to Casian Cidu, in the men’s sabre event. Romania entered 42 fencers in the competition, for all categories.



    At the World Artistic Gymnastics Cup in Qatar’s Doha this past Wednesday, after the first day of the qualifiers, the Romanian gymnast Sabrina Maneca Voinea secured a place in the vault final. Qualifiers are also held on Thursday, while the finals are scheduled on Friday and Saturday.



    In Turkyie’s Istanbul, the European Indoor Athletics Championships are held from Thursday and all through to Sunday. A 14-strong Romanian delegation takes part in the competition, with seven women and seven men competing. The Championships bring together almost 600 athletes from 47 countries. At the most recent edition of the indoor European championships held in the Polish city of Torun, in 2021, the best Romanian performance was provided by Daniela Stanciu who came in 5th in the high-jump event.



    In news from football, matches counting towards Romanian Super League’s 28th round have been scheduled this week. On Tuesday, in Sibiu, Universitatea Cluj defeated FC Hermannstadt, 1-nil. In Ploiesti, Chindia Târgovişte held FC U Craiova to a blank draw, while in Ovidiu in the south-east, Farul Constanţa defeated Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, 2-nil. On Wednesday, FC Voluntari defeated Dacia Mioveni, 3-nil, away from home, Universitatea Craiova grabbed a home win against FC Argeş, 1-nil, while Rapid Bucureşti defeated FC Botoşani, 2-1, away from home, Farul are the leader, with 61 points, while CFR are 2nd-placed, with 56. (EN)




  • Radio Romania International Sports club

    Radio Romania International Sports club


    The change of generations Romanian fencing has been going through fatally took its toll on Romanian fencing’s recent results at international
    level. We recall that that the Romanian delegation had a zero-medal tally at
    the European Championships held in Antalya, Turkey, in June. Little wonder then
    that the expectations for the World Championships in Cairo were low. At the
    event in Egypt, Romania had full teams for the men’s and women’s saber as well
    as in women’s foil and women’s epee events. Also, two other fencers
    participated in the men’s individual epee event. The set
    target was for the respective team to be placed on one of the first six
    positions at least in one single event. Sabre fencers were the favorites to meeting
    the set target. We recall that at the European championships the team came in 5th,
    while Răzvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu had been 5th and 6th
    placed, respectively, in the individual events.


    Exceeding all expectations, Romanian fencers succeeded to win two bronze
    medals, both in individual events. In the sabre event, Iulian Teodosiu stepped
    onto the third step of the podium, while Maria Boldor came in 3rd in
    the foil event. It was just expected from Teodosiu to succeed that. Iulian Teodosiu
    had already won three medals in nations’ competitions, in 2013, when the team
    won silver at the World Championships, in 2016, when the team won bronze, also
    in the World Championships, and also in 2016, when the Romanians won another
    bronze medal, this time in the European Championships. Foil fencer Maria Boldor used to have a constant and an apparently
    unassuming position among the world’s top 100 fencers, being placed somewhere around
    the 100th position. 26-year world Maria Boldor did not have exceptional
    results on the record, although she had competed in a great number of events ever
    since she was 17. However, her notable result in an individual event in Cairo earned Maria
    Boldor the 19th place according to the world rankings. The Romanian
    is also entitled to keeping her hopes high for the 2024 edition of the Olympic
    Games in Paris.


    In Cairo, the Romanian teams’ run was utterly disappointing. In the men’s
    sabre event, with Iulian Teodosiu and Răzvan Ursachi on the line-up, the
    Romanians were defeated in the very first round and came in 17th
    according to the final rankings. In women’s sabre, Romania was also defeated,
    again in the very first round, by Kazakhstan, and came in 18th. In
    the women’s foil event, with Maria Boldor fighting, the Romanians were
    outclassed by Singapore, also in the very first round, coming in 20th
    according to the final rankings. The women’s epee team was the only Romanian team to have lasted beyond the competition’s first round, when they defeated
    Canada yet losing to Italy, the bronze medalists in Tokyo. In the 9-16
    places tournament, Romania overpowered China, lost to Estonia and eventually
    defeated Egypt, coming in 11th according to the final rankings. A disappointing
    result, given that in 2016, the epee event earned Romania gold at the Olympic Games in
    Rio, in the nations’ competition, and silver in the individual event, in Tokyo,
    in 2021.(EN)


  • Radio Romania International Sports club

    Radio Romania International Sports club


    The change of generations Romanian fencing has been going through fatally took its toll on Romanian fencing’s recent results at international
    level. We recall that that the Romanian delegation had a zero-medal tally at
    the European Championships held in Antalya, Turkey, in June. Little wonder then
    that the expectations for the World Championships in Cairo were low. At the
    event in Egypt, Romania had full teams for the men’s and women’s saber as well
    as in women’s foil and women’s epee events. Also, two other fencers
    participated in the men’s individual epee event. The set
    target was for the respective team to be placed on one of the first six
    positions at least in one single event. Sabre fencers were the favorites to meeting
    the set target. We recall that at the European championships the team came in 5th,
    while Răzvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu had been 5th and 6th
    placed, respectively, in the individual events.


    Exceeding all expectations, Romanian fencers succeeded to win two bronze
    medals, both in individual events. In the sabre event, Iulian Teodosiu stepped
    onto the third step of the podium, while Maria Boldor came in 3rd in
    the foil event. It was just expected from Teodosiu to succeed that. Iulian Teodosiu
    had already won three medals in nations’ competitions, in 2013, when the team
    won silver at the World Championships, in 2016, when the team won bronze, also
    in the World Championships, and also in 2016, when the Romanians won another
    bronze medal, this time in the European Championships. Foil fencer Maria Boldor used to have a constant and an apparently
    unassuming position among the world’s top 100 fencers, being placed somewhere around
    the 100th position. 26-year world Maria Boldor did not have exceptional
    results on the record, although she had competed in a great number of events ever
    since she was 17. However, her notable result in an individual event in Cairo earned Maria
    Boldor the 19th place according to the world rankings. The Romanian
    is also entitled to keeping her hopes high for the 2024 edition of the Olympic
    Games in Paris.


    In Cairo, the Romanian teams’ run was utterly disappointing. In the men’s
    sabre event, with Iulian Teodosiu and Răzvan Ursachi on the line-up, the
    Romanians were defeated in the very first round and came in 17th
    according to the final rankings. In women’s sabre, Romania was also defeated,
    again in the very first round, by Kazakhstan, and came in 18th. In
    the women’s foil event, with Maria Boldor fighting, the Romanians were
    outclassed by Singapore, also in the very first round, coming in 20th
    according to the final rankings. The women’s epee team was the only Romanian team to have lasted beyond the competition’s first round, when they defeated
    Canada yet losing to Italy, the bronze medalists in Tokyo. In the 9-16
    places tournament, Romania overpowered China, lost to Estonia and eventually
    defeated Egypt, coming in 11th according to the final rankings. A disappointing
    result, given that in 2016, the epee event earned Romania gold at the Olympic Games in
    Rio, in the nations’ competition, and silver in the individual event, in Tokyo,
    in 2021.(EN)


  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    The Romanian athlete Alin Firfirică came out 7th in the discus throw finals of the World Athletics Championships hosted by the US city of Eugene, Oregon. Firfiricăs throw was 65.67 m, his best performance this season. The gold medal went to Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia, who broke the World Championships record with 71.13m. In the womens high jump event, Romanias Daniela Stanciu ranked 10th, with 1.93m, the same result she had in the qualifying round. The world title went to Australian Eleanor Patterson, for a 2.02m jump.



    Romanias womens epee team, made up of Greta Vereş, Alexandra Predescu, Cristina Constantinescu and Bianca Benea, came out 11th on Wednesday in the World Fencing Championships in Cairo. In the mens sabre event, Romanias team, comprising Iulian Teodosiu, Răzvan Ursachi, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu, lost to Turkey in the very first round and ranked 17th at the end of the competition. Romania has so far won 2 bronze medals in Cairo, both of them in individual events, thanks to Iulian Teodosiu in the sabre competition and Maria Boldor in womens foil.



    The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu managed to qualify in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Palermo, with EUR 203,024 in prize money. On Wednesday she outplayed Océane Dodin of France, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a match that ended almost at midnight. Begu, seed no. 6, won the match after 2 hours and 4 minutes. The 2 athletes had played twice before, with one win each. The French player won the 2019 Wimbledon second round match, while Begu beat her in the first round of this years Australian Open. For her performance in Palermo, Irina Begu receives 60 WTA points.



    The 2-times swimming world champion David Popovici and his coach, Adrian Rădulescu, were decorated by president Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday in a ceremony held at Cotroceni Palace. The head of state awarded the swimmer the “Star of Romania” National Order for his performance at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest this June. (AMP)


  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    The Romanian athlete Alin Firfirică came out 7th in the discus throw finals of the World Athletics Championships hosted by the US city of Eugene, Oregon. Firfiricăs throw was 65.67 m, his best performance this season. The gold medal went to Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia, who broke the World Championships record with 71.13m. In the womens high jump event, Romanias Daniela Stanciu ranked 10th, with 1.93m, the same result she had in the qualifying round. The world title went to Australian Eleanor Patterson, for a 2.02m jump.



    Romanias womens epee team, made up of Greta Vereş, Alexandra Predescu, Cristina Constantinescu and Bianca Benea, came out 11th on Wednesday in the World Fencing Championships in Cairo. In the mens sabre event, Romanias team, comprising Iulian Teodosiu, Răzvan Ursachi, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu, lost to Turkey in the very first round and ranked 17th at the end of the competition. Romania has so far won 2 bronze medals in Cairo, both of them in individual events, thanks to Iulian Teodosiu in the sabre competition and Maria Boldor in womens foil.



    The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu managed to qualify in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Palermo, with EUR 203,024 in prize money. On Wednesday she outplayed Océane Dodin of France, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a match that ended almost at midnight. Begu, seed no. 6, won the match after 2 hours and 4 minutes. The 2 athletes had played twice before, with one win each. The French player won the 2019 Wimbledon second round match, while Begu beat her in the first round of this years Australian Open. For her performance in Palermo, Irina Begu receives 60 WTA points.



    The 2-times swimming world champion David Popovici and his coach, Adrian Rădulescu, were decorated by president Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday in a ceremony held at Cotroceni Palace. The head of state awarded the swimmer the “Star of Romania” National Order for his performance at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest this June. (AMP)


  • Sports Weekend

    Sports Weekend


    The World Athletics Championships kick off this
    weekend in Eugene, Oregon, USA. The competition will span the entire week, to
    end on July 24. Romania’s delegation comprises 8 athletes, 4 women and 4 men.
    Bianca Ghelber will compete in hammer throw, an event in which she came out 6th
    at the Tokyo Olympics. Alexandru Novac, another Tokyo Olympics finalist, is
    also expected to get good results in the javelin throw competition. The other
    Romanian participants are Daniela Stanciu
    in the high jump, Ana Veronica Rodean and Mihaela Acatrinei in the 20km race
    walk, Andrei Rareş Toader in shot put, Alin Alexandru Firfirica in discus throw
    and Marius Iulian Cocioran in the 35km race walk.


    Romania’s delegation in the World Fencing
    Championships in Cairo, which also begin this weekend, is made up of 18 athletes,
    12 women and 6 men, who target a place among the top 4-6 nations. Romania has
    complete teams in the men’s and women’s sabre events, and in the women’s foil
    and epee events, plus 2 athletes in the men’s epee individual event. The men’s
    sabre team, which ranked 5th in the European Championships hosted by
    Antalya, Turkey this June, has the best chances to meet the goal set by the
    Romanian Fencing Federation for the Cairo Championships. Sabreurs Răzvan
    Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu also stand good chances, after ranking 5th
    and 6th in the European individual competition in Antalya. In the
    latest World Championships, held in 2019 in Budapest, Romania’s Bianca Pascu
    won the gold in the women’s individual sabre event. The most recent world titles for
    Romania were won by the women’s epee team in 2010 and 2011, and the men’s sabre
    team in 2009.


    We end today’s sports segment with news from
    football. This weekend sees the start of a new season of the Romanian top
    football league, which as of this year will be called Superleague. On Friday,
    FC Hermannstadt take on CS Mioveni and Universitatea Craiova play Sepsi Sfântu
    Gheorghe. On Saturday, FC Argeș play on home turf against UTA Arad, while CFR Cluj
    take on Rapid București. On Sunday, Farul Constanța play against FC U Craiova, and
    FCSB against Universitatea Cluj. The last 2 matches in this first leg are
    scheduled for Monday, pitting FC Botoșani against Chindia Târgoviște and
    Petrolul Ploiești against FC Voluntari. (AMP)

  • Sports Weekend

    Sports Weekend


    The World Athletics Championships kick off this
    weekend in Eugene, Oregon, USA. The competition will span the entire week, to
    end on July 24. Romania’s delegation comprises 8 athletes, 4 women and 4 men.
    Bianca Ghelber will compete in hammer throw, an event in which she came out 6th
    at the Tokyo Olympics. Alexandru Novac, another Tokyo Olympics finalist, is
    also expected to get good results in the javelin throw competition. The other
    Romanian participants are Daniela Stanciu
    in the high jump, Ana Veronica Rodean and Mihaela Acatrinei in the 20km race
    walk, Andrei Rareş Toader in shot put, Alin Alexandru Firfirica in discus throw
    and Marius Iulian Cocioran in the 35km race walk.


    Romania’s delegation in the World Fencing
    Championships in Cairo, which also begin this weekend, is made up of 18 athletes,
    12 women and 6 men, who target a place among the top 4-6 nations. Romania has
    complete teams in the men’s and women’s sabre events, and in the women’s foil
    and epee events, plus 2 athletes in the men’s epee individual event. The men’s
    sabre team, which ranked 5th in the European Championships hosted by
    Antalya, Turkey this June, has the best chances to meet the goal set by the
    Romanian Fencing Federation for the Cairo Championships. Sabreurs Răzvan
    Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu also stand good chances, after ranking 5th
    and 6th in the European individual competition in Antalya. In the
    latest World Championships, held in 2019 in Budapest, Romania’s Bianca Pascu
    won the gold in the women’s individual sabre event. The most recent world titles for
    Romania were won by the women’s epee team in 2010 and 2011, and the men’s sabre
    team in 2009.


    We end today’s sports segment with news from
    football. This weekend sees the start of a new season of the Romanian top
    football league, which as of this year will be called Superleague. On Friday,
    FC Hermannstadt take on CS Mioveni and Universitatea Craiova play Sepsi Sfântu
    Gheorghe. On Saturday, FC Argeș play on home turf against UTA Arad, while CFR Cluj
    take on Rapid București. On Sunday, Farul Constanța play against FC U Craiova, and
    FCSB against Universitatea Cluj. The last 2 matches in this first leg are
    scheduled for Monday, pitting FC Botoșani against Chindia Târgoviște and
    Petrolul Ploiești against FC Voluntari. (AMP)

  • The year 2021 in sports – Part 2

    The year 2021 in sports – Part 2


    The year 2021 worldwide, just like the previous year,
    was affected by the new Covid-19 pandemic. The world of sports was no exception
    to that, but those involved succeeded to cope with the situation. Competitions
    were held, that had initially been scheduled in 2020, such as the European Football championship or the Olympic Games, even though the latter event was
    held under special safety conditions. We have so far come up with the first
    part of the 2021 retrospective in sports, specifically, we have covered the
    first six months of the year. We’re yet again spinning the yarn of 2021 sports
    year. In July, tennis player Elena Gabriela Ruse won the Hamburg tournament,
    the first WTA success for the Romanian. Ruse secured a 7-6, 6-4 win against Germany’s Andreea Petcovic. Prior to the
    tournament, Elena Ruse was 198th placed according to the WTA rankings. She came
    straight from the qualifiers and her trail back then included wins over some of
    the tournament’s seeded players, among whom Ukraine’s Daria Yastremska, the
    top-seeded player in Hamburg.


    The Olympic Games in Tokyo also kicked off in July. In
    Tokyo, four times did the Romanian delegation step onto the steps of the
    podium, while three of the medals went to the rowing crews. The women’s double
    sculls crew made of Simona Radiș and Ancuța
    Bodnar won the Olympic title. Silver went to the men’s four coxless crew made
    of Mihăiţă Ţigănescu, Mugurel Semciuc, Ştefan Berariu and Cosmin Pascari. The
    Romanian men’s pair made of Ciprian Tudosă and Marius Cozmiuc also won silver. The Romanian delegation’s only singles
    medal was won by veteran epee fencer Ana-Maria
    Popescu, who also walked home with silver.


    In August, tennis player Horia Tecau and the German Kevin
    Krawietz played the finals in Toronto, a tournament with almost three million USD up
    for grabs. Top-seeded all-Croatian pair made of Nikola Metkic and Mate Pavic overpowered
    their Romanian-Dutch challengers. Raluca Olaru and Nadia Kicenok won the
    women’s doubles final of the WTA tournament in Chicago, securing a 7-6, 5-7,
    10-8 win against Japanese – Ukrainian pair made of Makoto Ninomiya and Nadia
    Kicenok’s twin sister, Ljudmila.


    Romanian sports legend Ivan Patzaichin passed away in
    September. The greatest Romanian rower of all time died at the age of 71
    because of a fatal illness. In the Polish locality Kruszwica, the Romanian
    rowing delegation won ten medals, of which five were gold and five silver, as
    part of the European U-21 Rowing Championship. The women’s coxed four and coxless four crews won the Olympic titles. The coxed eight and the lightweight singles crews
    also won gold. Also gold went to the men’s coxless four crew. Romania came in 1st according to the nations’ final
    rankings. Also in September, at the US Open, British tennis player, 18-year-old
    Emma Raducanu, whose father is Romanian, won the tournament. Emma was the only
    tennis player coming straight from the qualifiers who won a Grand Slam
    tournament.


    In October, the women’s doubles event as part of the
    WTA Nur-Sultan tournament in Kazakhstan was won by Monica Niculescu and
    Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam, who outclassed the all-Russian pair made of Anghelina
    Gabueva and Anastasia Zaharova, c6-2, 4-6, 10-5. Then in Moscow, Raluca Olaru
    and Ukrainian Nadia Kicenok reached as far as the tournament’s finals. In November, swimmer David Popovici won gold in the
    200m freestyle event as part of the short-course European swimming
    Championships in Kazan, Russia. 17-year-old Popovici won his first European seniors’
    title, also setting a new national record. Robert Glinta won silver and bronze
    in the 100m and 50m backstroke events. Then Romania’s men’s tennis team
    advanced to the qualifiers of the Davis Cup final tournament. In Cluj, the
    Romanian team outperformed the national team of Peru, 4-nil.


    The World IHF Women’s Championships were held in Spain
    in December. With one of the world’s best handballers, Cristina Neagu, absent
    from the line-up, Romania came in 13th according to the final
    rankings. However, the Romanian women’s handball team is the only national
    squad to have competed in all editions of the World IHF Championships. In
    December, fencer Ana-Maria Popescu officially retired from competition, having
    won the silver medal in the World Epee Cup in Dubai. Previously, Popescu had
    been awarded the World Cup Trophy for the 2020-2021 competition season.


    Our retrospective of the year 2021 in sports has come
    to an end. We keep our hopes high for 2022 to be a better year, for
    competitors, head-coaches and sports lovers alike.

    (EN)