Radio România Internațional

Tag: semifinals

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Romanian tennis player Elena-Gabriela Ruse has
    ended her run as part of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian
    Open 2023. Pairing up with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, Ruse was unable to go past
    the semifinals. Kostyuk and Ruse sustained a 2-6, 2-6 defeat by the top-seeded,
    all-Czech pair made of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. For Ruse and
    Kostyuk, reaching as far as the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, the Australian
    Open, has been their career-best.


    The coming weekend will see matches being
    played, as part of the Erste Liga regional ice hockey competition. On Friday, Corona
    Brașov go against Fehérvár Hockey Académia. In Miercurea
    Ciuc on Sunday, the team from Székesfehérvár will take on Sport Club Miercurea
    Ciuc. On Monday, also in Harghita
    County, Fehérvár Hockey Académia play the League’s
    leader, ACSH Gheorgheni.


    The winter edition of the European Youth
    Olympic Festival 2023 is underway in Italy. On Thursday, Romania was that close
    to winning a medal in the women’s version of the snowboard cross, an event
    where Kata Mandel came in 4th. French competitor Fٞélicie Leicht won,
    followed by another French competitor, Léa Casta, and Karolina Sperlova of the Czech
    Republic. It has been the best result so far of the Romanian delegation
    participating in the winter edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2023.
    Also, it was the best position for a Romanian participant as part of the Olympic Festival’s
    snowboard event.


    Matches counting
    towards the 23rd round as part of the Romanian Superleague domestic football championship will be played at the weekend. On Friday, Universitatea
    Cluj receive the visit of Rapid Bucharest. On Sunday, in Arad, the local side UTA
    take on Dacia Mioveni. In Ploiesti, in the south, Petrolul face Chindia
    Târgovişte, while in Craiova, Universitatea are pitted against Hermannstadt
    Sibiu. On Sunday in Pitesti, FC Botoşani play FC Argeş, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe receive
    the visit of FC U Craiova, while in Bucharest, FCSB face Farul Constanţa. On
    Monday, FC Voluntari go against CFR Cluj. CFR Cluj are at the top of the table with 47 points, followed by Farul,
    with 45. (EN)

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Romanian tennis player Elena-Gabriela Ruse has
    ended her run as part of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian
    Open 2023. Pairing up with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, Ruse was unable to go past
    the semifinals. Kostyuk and Ruse sustained a 2-6, 2-6 defeat by the top-seeded,
    all-Czech pair made of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. For Ruse and
    Kostyuk, reaching as far as the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, the Australian
    Open, has been their career-best.


    The coming weekend will see matches being
    played, as part of the Erste Liga regional ice hockey competition. On Friday, Corona
    Brașov go against Fehérvár Hockey Académia. In Miercurea
    Ciuc on Sunday, the team from Székesfehérvár will take on Sport Club Miercurea
    Ciuc. On Monday, also in Harghita
    County, Fehérvár Hockey Académia play the League’s
    leader, ACSH Gheorgheni.


    The winter edition of the European Youth
    Olympic Festival 2023 is underway in Italy. On Thursday, Romania was that close
    to winning a medal in the women’s version of the snowboard cross, an event
    where Kata Mandel came in 4th. French competitor Fٞélicie Leicht won,
    followed by another French competitor, Léa Casta, and Karolina Sperlova of the Czech
    Republic. It has been the best result so far of the Romanian delegation
    participating in the winter edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2023.
    Also, it was the best position for a Romanian participant as part of the Olympic Festival’s
    snowboard event.


    Matches counting
    towards the 23rd round as part of the Romanian Superleague domestic football championship will be played at the weekend. On Friday, Universitatea
    Cluj receive the visit of Rapid Bucharest. On Sunday, in Arad, the local side UTA
    take on Dacia Mioveni. In Ploiesti, in the south, Petrolul face Chindia
    Târgovişte, while in Craiova, Universitatea are pitted against Hermannstadt
    Sibiu. On Sunday in Pitesti, FC Botoşani play FC Argeş, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe receive
    the visit of FC U Craiova, while in Bucharest, FCSB face Farul Constanţa. On
    Monday, FC Voluntari go against CFR Cluj. CFR Cluj are at the top of the table with 47 points, followed by Farul,
    with 45. (EN)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday advanced to the
    quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Lyon, an event with 193 thousand Euros
    up for grabs. In the tournament’s round of 16, Cirstea defeated Switzerland’s Stefanie Vögele, 6-3, 7-5. On her way to the semi-finals, on Friday Cirstea will face Hungary’s Anna
    Bondar. We recall Cirstea faced Bondar only once, in Budapest, in 2019, in the
    first round, when the Romanian defeated her opponent, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. According
    to the WTA rankings made public earlier this week, Cirstea is 31st-placed.
    Should Sorana reach the final in Lyon, she is sure to outclass Simona Halep,
    who is 21st-placed according to the same rankings. Sorana Cirstea
    could thus become the best-placed Romanian tennis player according to the WTA
    rankings.


    In news from men’s tennis, this coming Friday and
    Saturday, in Spain’s Marbella, Romania’s team goes against Spain, in a Davis
    Cup playoff match counting towards the competition’s final tournament. For the
    match against Spain, to be played on a clay court, Romania-s non-playing
    captain, Gabriel Trifu, has summoned a team made of Marius Copil, Nicolae
    Frunză, Ştefan Paloşi, Gabi Adrian Boitan and Horia Tecău.


    In a fixture counting towards the European Championship’s
    preliminaries, Romania’s national women’s handball team in Mioveni this past Wednesday
    sustained a 28-35 defeat by Denmark, the bronze medalist team at the World championships
    in December 2021. After a one-year gap, or
    thereabouts, Romania’s best handball player of the moment, Cristina Neagu, was
    on the pitch but was unable to make the difference to the national team’s
    advantage. According to the second preliminary group rankings, Denmark is at
    the top of the table, with 6 points, followed by Romania, with 3. Austria is 3rd-placed,
    with 1 point, while bottom-of-the-table Feroe Islands team has zero points on
    its record sheet. The first two teams secure their ticket to the final tournament.
    Romania’s return leg against Denmark is scheduled in Odense this coming Saturday.


    Matches counting towards the last-but-one round, the 29th, of
    the regular football season have been played this week. On Tuesday, in Ploiesti,
    in the south, Chindia Târgoviște defeated
    UTA Arad, 1-nil. Also on Tuesday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe grabbed a 3-1 away win
    against Dinamo Bucharest, while F C U Craiova secured a 3-2 home win against Rapid
    Bucharest.


    On Wednesday in Bucharest, Academica Clinceni defeated
    Gaz Metan Mediaș, 2-nil, while in Mioveni, also in the south, Universitatea Craiova
    secured a 3-nil away win against CS Mioveni. Also on
    Wednesday, CFR Cluj grabbed a 1-nil away win against FC Voluntari. On Thursday,
    Farul Constanta take on FC Botosani, while FC Arges face FCSB.


    CFR Cluj is at the top of the as-it-stands table, with 73 points. FCSB is
    the runner-up team, with 59.


    (EN)


    —–

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday advanced to the
    quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Lyon, an event with 193 thousand Euros
    up for grabs. In the tournament’s round of 16, Cirstea defeated Switzerland’s Stefanie Vögele, 6-3, 7-5. On her way to the semi-finals, on Friday Cirstea will face Hungary’s Anna
    Bondar. We recall Cirstea faced Bondar only once, in Budapest, in 2019, in the
    first round, when the Romanian defeated her opponent, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. According
    to the WTA rankings made public earlier this week, Cirstea is 31st-placed.
    Should Sorana reach the final in Lyon, she is sure to outclass Simona Halep,
    who is 21st-placed according to the same rankings. Sorana Cirstea
    could thus become the best-placed Romanian tennis player according to the WTA
    rankings.


    In news from men’s tennis, this coming Friday and
    Saturday, in Spain’s Marbella, Romania’s team goes against Spain, in a Davis
    Cup playoff match counting towards the competition’s final tournament. For the
    match against Spain, to be played on a clay court, Romania-s non-playing
    captain, Gabriel Trifu, has summoned a team made of Marius Copil, Nicolae
    Frunză, Ştefan Paloşi, Gabi Adrian Boitan and Horia Tecău.


    In a fixture counting towards the European Championship’s
    preliminaries, Romania’s national women’s handball team in Mioveni this past Wednesday
    sustained a 28-35 defeat by Denmark, the bronze medalist team at the World championships
    in December 2021. After a one-year gap, or
    thereabouts, Romania’s best handball player of the moment, Cristina Neagu, was
    on the pitch but was unable to make the difference to the national team’s
    advantage. According to the second preliminary group rankings, Denmark is at
    the top of the table, with 6 points, followed by Romania, with 3. Austria is 3rd-placed,
    with 1 point, while bottom-of-the-table Feroe Islands team has zero points on
    its record sheet. The first two teams secure their ticket to the final tournament.
    Romania’s return leg against Denmark is scheduled in Odense this coming Saturday.


    Matches counting towards the last-but-one round, the 29th, of
    the regular football season have been played this week. On Tuesday, in Ploiesti,
    in the south, Chindia Târgoviște defeated
    UTA Arad, 1-nil. Also on Tuesday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe grabbed a 3-1 away win
    against Dinamo Bucharest, while F C U Craiova secured a 3-2 home win against Rapid
    Bucharest.


    On Wednesday in Bucharest, Academica Clinceni defeated
    Gaz Metan Mediaș, 2-nil, while in Mioveni, also in the south, Universitatea Craiova
    secured a 3-nil away win against CS Mioveni. Also on
    Wednesday, CFR Cluj grabbed a 1-nil away win against FC Voluntari. On Thursday,
    Farul Constanta take on FC Botosani, while FC Arges face FCSB.


    CFR Cluj is at the top of the as-it-stands table, with 73 points. FCSB is
    the runner-up team, with 59.


    (EN)


    —–

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    All
    Romanian tennis players participating in the US Open in tennis have been edged
    out of competition. Monica Niculescu and Gabriela Ruse were the last ones to
    leave the tournament. This past Wednesday, the Romanian pair sustained a 6-7,
    6-2, 6-3 defeat by the Chilean – US payer made of Alexa Guarachi and Desirae
    Krawczyk. In the women’s doubles quarterfinals, Niculescu and Ruse gave in after
    two hours and 24 minutes of play. However, Niculescu and Ruse earned their
    place among the tournament’s first eight pairs, so they were rewarded with
    93,000 USD and 430 points according to the WTA doubles rankings.


    A
    fresh edition of the Champions League in women’s handball kick-starts this
    coming weekend. Romania’s representative in the competition, CSM Bucharest, has
    been included in Group A. CSM will make their debut in the League’s first round
    taking on Danish opponents Esbjerg away from home, this coming Sunday. Romanian
    world star Cristina Neagu and her colleagues’ set target is advancing to the
    competition’s semifinals. In Group A, CSM Bucharest rubs shoulders with Brest
    Bretagne of France, Ferencvaros Budapest of Hungary, Buducnost Podgorica, of Montenegro,
    Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Rostov Don of Russia and Podravka Koprivnica, of Croatia.


    Matches
    counting towards the eighth round of Romanian League One in football will be
    played this coming weekend. On Friday, CS Mioveni take on Chindia Targoviste,
    while UTA Arad face Rapid Bucharest. On Saturday, in Pitesi, the local team FC
    Arges go against FC U Craiova, while FC Botosani receive the visit of CFR Cluj,
    On Sunday, Gaz Metan Medias play a home game against FC Voluntari. The Romanian
    championship’s all-time derby, pitting FCSB against Dinamo Bucharest, will be
    hosted by the National Arena in Bucharest. Both clubs have made spectacular
    transfers. International footballer Constantin Budescu played for a team in
    Saudi Arabia and got transferred by FCSB. Among other footballers, Dinamo
    Bucharest has signed up international footballer Gabriel Torje.The
    eighth round’s closing matches are scheduled this coming Monday, when Farul
    Constanţa play Academica Clinceni in Ovidiu, while Universitatea Craiova play a
    home fixture against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. CFR Cluj are at the top of the
    table with a maximum number of points, 21, while Rapid Bucharest are the
    runner-up team, with 16 points.(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    All
    Romanian tennis players participating in the US Open in tennis have been edged
    out of competition. Monica Niculescu and Gabriela Ruse were the last ones to
    leave the tournament. This past Wednesday, the Romanian pair sustained a 6-7,
    6-2, 6-3 defeat by the Chilean – US payer made of Alexa Guarachi and Desirae
    Krawczyk. In the women’s doubles quarterfinals, Niculescu and Ruse gave in after
    two hours and 24 minutes of play. However, Niculescu and Ruse earned their
    place among the tournament’s first eight pairs, so they were rewarded with
    93,000 USD and 430 points according to the WTA doubles rankings.


    A
    fresh edition of the Champions League in women’s handball kick-starts this
    coming weekend. Romania’s representative in the competition, CSM Bucharest, has
    been included in Group A. CSM will make their debut in the League’s first round
    taking on Danish opponents Esbjerg away from home, this coming Sunday. Romanian
    world star Cristina Neagu and her colleagues’ set target is advancing to the
    competition’s semifinals. In Group A, CSM Bucharest rubs shoulders with Brest
    Bretagne of France, Ferencvaros Budapest of Hungary, Buducnost Podgorica, of Montenegro,
    Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Rostov Don of Russia and Podravka Koprivnica, of Croatia.


    Matches
    counting towards the eighth round of Romanian League One in football will be
    played this coming weekend. On Friday, CS Mioveni take on Chindia Targoviste,
    while UTA Arad face Rapid Bucharest. On Saturday, in Pitesi, the local team FC
    Arges go against FC U Craiova, while FC Botosani receive the visit of CFR Cluj,
    On Sunday, Gaz Metan Medias play a home game against FC Voluntari. The Romanian
    championship’s all-time derby, pitting FCSB against Dinamo Bucharest, will be
    hosted by the National Arena in Bucharest. Both clubs have made spectacular
    transfers. International footballer Constantin Budescu played for a team in
    Saudi Arabia and got transferred by FCSB. Among other footballers, Dinamo
    Bucharest has signed up international footballer Gabriel Torje.The
    eighth round’s closing matches are scheduled this coming Monday, when Farul
    Constanţa play Academica Clinceni in Ovidiu, while Universitatea Craiova play a
    home fixture against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. CFR Cluj are at the top of the
    table with a maximum number of points, 21, while Rapid Bucharest are the
    runner-up team, with 16 points.(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

  • Athlete of the week on Radio Romania International

    Athlete of the week on Radio Romania International

    Romanian women tennis players have yet again earned their place among the worlds elite. The central Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca as of late has played host to a WTA tournament, an event with 235,000 USD in prize money. Some of the moments top-flight women tennis players participated, among whom Alizé Cornet of France and Germanys Andrea Petkovic. The latter tennis player also won the tournament, adding the seventh WTA win to her record.



    The main draw in Cluj-Napoca included no less than seven Romanian competitors. Mihaela Buzarnescu compelled recognition among her fellow tennis players, had an excellent run throughout the tournament and reached as far as the semifinals. Her trail included a first-round win against 7th-seeded Viktoria Tomova of Bulgaria, 3-2, 6-3, and a round-of-16 win against Spains Lara Arruabarrena, 6-3, 7-5. Then in the quarterfinals, Buzarnescu took on Czech challenger Kristyna Pliskova, whom she defeated, 7-5, 6-3. However, in the semifinals, Mihaela Buzarnescu conceded defeat to Mayar Sherif of Egypt, 7-6, 6-4. Notwithstanding, Mihaelas advancing to the tournaments semifinals is a noteworthy feat, for which she received a check worth 10,000 USD. The Romanian was also granted 110 WTA points. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Mihaela Buzarnescu the Athlete of the Week



    Left-handed tennis player Mihaela Buzărnescu was born in 1988 in Bucharest. She turned pro in 2004, at the age of 16. Her career-best as a junior tennis player occurred in 2006. Back then Mihaela won the US Opens womens doubles, pairing up with a fellow Romanian, Raluca Olaru. As a senior tennis player, 2018 was Buzarnescus most auspicious year. On August 6 that year, the Romanian was 20th-placed according to the WTA womens singles rankings, while on October 22nd Mihaela was 24th-placed according to the womens doubles rankings, the peak of her career as a senior competitor. Mihaela Buzarnescu is 134th-placed according to the WTA as-it-stands table. In 2016, Ms. Buzarnescu earned her doctoral degree in Physical Education and Sports. Her research topic focused on ways to optimize the junior tennis players performance by improving their motor and psychomotor abilities.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)



  • Athlete of the week on Radio Romania International

    Athlete of the week on Radio Romania International

    Romanian women tennis players have yet again earned their place among the worlds elite. The central Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca as of late has played host to a WTA tournament, an event with 235,000 USD in prize money. Some of the moments top-flight women tennis players participated, among whom Alizé Cornet of France and Germanys Andrea Petkovic. The latter tennis player also won the tournament, adding the seventh WTA win to her record.



    The main draw in Cluj-Napoca included no less than seven Romanian competitors. Mihaela Buzarnescu compelled recognition among her fellow tennis players, had an excellent run throughout the tournament and reached as far as the semifinals. Her trail included a first-round win against 7th-seeded Viktoria Tomova of Bulgaria, 3-2, 6-3, and a round-of-16 win against Spains Lara Arruabarrena, 6-3, 7-5. Then in the quarterfinals, Buzarnescu took on Czech challenger Kristyna Pliskova, whom she defeated, 7-5, 6-3. However, in the semifinals, Mihaela Buzarnescu conceded defeat to Mayar Sherif of Egypt, 7-6, 6-4. Notwithstanding, Mihaelas advancing to the tournaments semifinals is a noteworthy feat, for which she received a check worth 10,000 USD. The Romanian was also granted 110 WTA points. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Mihaela Buzarnescu the Athlete of the Week



    Left-handed tennis player Mihaela Buzărnescu was born in 1988 in Bucharest. She turned pro in 2004, at the age of 16. Her career-best as a junior tennis player occurred in 2006. Back then Mihaela won the US Opens womens doubles, pairing up with a fellow Romanian, Raluca Olaru. As a senior tennis player, 2018 was Buzarnescus most auspicious year. On August 6 that year, the Romanian was 20th-placed according to the WTA womens singles rankings, while on October 22nd Mihaela was 24th-placed according to the womens doubles rankings, the peak of her career as a senior competitor. Mihaela Buzarnescu is 134th-placed according to the WTA as-it-stands table. In 2016, Ms. Buzarnescu earned her doctoral degree in Physical Education and Sports. Her research topic focused on ways to optimize the junior tennis players performance by improving their motor and psychomotor abilities.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)



  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    The Romanian-German pair made of Horia Tecau and Kevin
    Krawietz has qualified for the men’s doubles semifinals as part of the ATP
    Rotterdam tournament, an event with 980, 580 Euros up for grabs all told. On
    Tuesday, Tecau and Krawietz grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win against the all-Russian pair
    made of Karen Hachyanov and Andrey Rublev.
    We recall that in 2015 Tecău, jointly with Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien
    Rojer, won the men’s doubles title in Rotterdam. In 2014 and 2019, Tecau and
    Rojer played the final in Rottterdam. In 2012, Horia Tecau had also reached as
    far as the final, also in Rotterdam, pairing up with Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt.


    Monica Niculescu and Jelena Ostapenko play the women’s
    doubles final in the WTA tournament in Doha, an event with 565.530 USD up for
    grabs all told. In this past Thursday’s semifinals, the Romanian-Latvian pair
    outclassed the all-Czech pair made of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Sinyakova,
    2-6, 6-3, 10-8.


    A Grand Slam judo tournament will kick off in Tashkent
    this coming weekend. According to a message posted on the International Judo
    Federation’s webpage, six judoka will fight for Romania. Proving their mettle
    in the women’s version of the tournament are Alexandra Monica Ungureanu, in the
    48-kilogram category and Loredana Ohâi, in the 57-kilogram category. Joining
    them is Ștefania Adelina Dobre, in the 63-kilogram category. In the men;s
    version of the tournament tin Tashkent, Alexandru Raicu in the 73-kilogram
    category and Marcel Cercea, in the 81-kilogram category, will make an attempt
    to win a medal. Joining them in the competition is Vladut Simionescu, in the
    plus 100-kilogram category.


    SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea Romanian women’s handball team this
    coming Sunday plays a home game against CSM Bucharest. The fixture counts
    towards the Champions League’s round of 16’s first leg. The return leg is
    scheduled in Bucharest on March 13. In the National League, CSM Bucharest fare
    better than the other teams in the echelon, being 8 points clear from the
    runner-up team, Minaur Baia Mare, and 9 points clear from SCM Ramnicu Valcea.


    In news from football, Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu,
    Astra Giurgiu, Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo București are the four Romanian
    teams that have got through to the semifinals of Romanian Cup. In a
    quarterfinals fixture hosted by a stadium in Buzau this past Tuesday, Universitatea
    Craiova secured a 1-nil win against Chindia Târgoviște. On Wednesday,
    second-league team Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu, grabbed a 3-1 away win against
    another second league team, Universitatea Cluj. In the southern Romanian town
    of Ploiesti, the local side Petrolul, also playing in the second league
    sustained a nil-3 defeat by Astra Giurgiu. On Thursday, Dinamo Bucharest
    grabbed a 3-1 away win against another second-league team, Dunarea Calarasi.


    Matches counting towards League One’s 26th
    round are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe go against
    Chindia Târgoviște, while Viitorul Constanța face Academica Clinceni. On
    Saturday, Universitatea Craiova play a home game against FC Botoșani, in the
    western Romanian town of Arad, UTA receives the visit of CFR Cluj. In the
    southern Romanian town of Giurgiu, the local side Astra are pitted against FC Hermannstadt on Sunday, while in Bucharest, FCSB play Gaz Metan Mediaș. The 26th
    leg’s last two fixtures are scheduled this coming Monday, when FC Argeș are pitted
    against Poli Iași, while FC Voluntari take on Dinamo. FCSB and CFR Cluj have a
    laid-back advantage according to the as-it-stands-table, with a similar number
    of points, yet FCSB have a better goal average.


  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    The Romanian-German pair made of Horia Tecau and Kevin
    Krawietz has qualified for the men’s doubles semifinals as part of the ATP
    Rotterdam tournament, an event with 980, 580 Euros up for grabs all told. On
    Tuesday, Tecau and Krawietz grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win against the all-Russian pair
    made of Karen Hachyanov and Andrey Rublev.
    We recall that in 2015 Tecău, jointly with Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien
    Rojer, won the men’s doubles title in Rotterdam. In 2014 and 2019, Tecau and
    Rojer played the final in Rottterdam. In 2012, Horia Tecau had also reached as
    far as the final, also in Rotterdam, pairing up with Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt.


    Monica Niculescu and Jelena Ostapenko play the women’s
    doubles final in the WTA tournament in Doha, an event with 565.530 USD up for
    grabs all told. In this past Thursday’s semifinals, the Romanian-Latvian pair
    outclassed the all-Czech pair made of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Sinyakova,
    2-6, 6-3, 10-8.


    A Grand Slam judo tournament will kick off in Tashkent
    this coming weekend. According to a message posted on the International Judo
    Federation’s webpage, six judoka will fight for Romania. Proving their mettle
    in the women’s version of the tournament are Alexandra Monica Ungureanu, in the
    48-kilogram category and Loredana Ohâi, in the 57-kilogram category. Joining
    them is Ștefania Adelina Dobre, in the 63-kilogram category. In the men;s
    version of the tournament tin Tashkent, Alexandru Raicu in the 73-kilogram
    category and Marcel Cercea, in the 81-kilogram category, will make an attempt
    to win a medal. Joining them in the competition is Vladut Simionescu, in the
    plus 100-kilogram category.


    SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea Romanian women’s handball team this
    coming Sunday plays a home game against CSM Bucharest. The fixture counts
    towards the Champions League’s round of 16’s first leg. The return leg is
    scheduled in Bucharest on March 13. In the National League, CSM Bucharest fare
    better than the other teams in the echelon, being 8 points clear from the
    runner-up team, Minaur Baia Mare, and 9 points clear from SCM Ramnicu Valcea.


    In news from football, Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu,
    Astra Giurgiu, Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo București are the four Romanian
    teams that have got through to the semifinals of Romanian Cup. In a
    quarterfinals fixture hosted by a stadium in Buzau this past Tuesday, Universitatea
    Craiova secured a 1-nil win against Chindia Târgoviște. On Wednesday,
    second-league team Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu, grabbed a 3-1 away win against
    another second league team, Universitatea Cluj. In the southern Romanian town
    of Ploiesti, the local side Petrolul, also playing in the second league
    sustained a nil-3 defeat by Astra Giurgiu. On Thursday, Dinamo Bucharest
    grabbed a 3-1 away win against another second-league team, Dunarea Calarasi.


    Matches counting towards League One’s 26th
    round are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe go against
    Chindia Târgoviște, while Viitorul Constanța face Academica Clinceni. On
    Saturday, Universitatea Craiova play a home game against FC Botoșani, in the
    western Romanian town of Arad, UTA receives the visit of CFR Cluj. In the
    southern Romanian town of Giurgiu, the local side Astra are pitted against FC Hermannstadt on Sunday, while in Bucharest, FCSB play Gaz Metan Mediaș. The 26th
    leg’s last two fixtures are scheduled this coming Monday, when FC Argeș are pitted
    against Poli Iași, while FC Voluntari take on Dinamo. FCSB and CFR Cluj have a
    laid-back advantage according to the as-it-stands-table, with a similar number
    of points, yet FCSB have a better goal average.


  • Head-coach of the year in 2020

    Head-coach of the year in 2020

    Romanian sports at world level is represented by dozens of head-coaches activating in many sports disciplines, and some of them have been doing their job at top-notch level. Needless to say that football head-coaches enjoy the greatest notoriety. In 2020, four names of football head-coaches have hit the headlines. With title holders CFR Cluj, for instance, Dan Petrescu won a new edition of the domestic championship and saw his team getting through to the Europa Leagues group stage.



    Lucescu was at the helm of Dynamo Kiyv, taking the team all the way up to the Champions Leagues group stage. In China, Cosmin Olaroiu won Chinas Superleague with Jiangsu Suning. In Saudi Arabia, with Razvan Lucescu at the helm, Al-Hilal won the domestic championship and the Kings Cup. Thanks to the two trophies he won this year, Razvan Lucescu outclassed the other three head-coaches and was designated Head-coach of the Year in 2020 by Radio Romania International.



    Răzvan Lucescu is the son of former great Romanian footballer and head-coach Mircea Lucescu. He was born in Bucharest on 17 February 1969. As a footballer, Razvan was goalkeeper for such Romanian teams as Sportul Studenţesc, FC Naţional, FC Braşov and Rapid Bucharest. As a head-coach, Razvan Lucescus best results were provided by his stint with Rapid Bucharest. The team won Romanian Cup twice. In 2006 Rapid reached as far as UEFA Cups quarterfinals, the teams blazing trail back then including wins in games against Feyenoord Rotterdam, Shakhtar Donetsk, Hertha Berlin and SV Hamburg. Yet Rapid failed to qualify in the semifinals, conceding defeat, on aggregate, to Steaua Bucharest, after two draws.



    Over 2009 and 2011, Razvan Lucescu was the head-coach of Romanias national team. In 2019, he won the Greek domestic championship and the Cup of Greece with PAOK Thessalonica. Lucescu Jr also won the Asian Champions League with the Saudi team Al-Hilal and was designated the head-coach of the year at the Romanian Football Gala in 2019. The two trophies he won in 2020 yet again earned Razvan Lucescu a place among the best Romanian coaches.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)


  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Football matches counting towards the first
    leg of Romania’s Cup semifinals were played on Wednesday and Thursday. On
    Wednesday, the local side Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe
    trounced visitors Politehnica Iasi, 5-1. Poli drew first blood on five minutes,
    when Andrei Cristea scored from a penalty kick. Sepsi provided the equalizer thanks
    to their Dutch player Anass Achahbar, on 25 minutes. In the second half, Sepsi’s
    Lóránd Fülöp scored on 52 minutes. Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe’s performance was way
    above par on the pitch, for the last fifteen minutes of regular time, with the team from Covasna scoring
    no less than three goals. Sepsi’s Dutch footballer Achahbar scored his second
    goal in minute 75. On 81 minutes Politehnica Iasi’s keeper Denis Rusu fatefully
    scored an own goal. On 86 minutes, Sepsi’s Swiss footballer Goran Karanović sealed
    the fate of the game, scoring for the fifth time.

    The Cup’s other semifinal on Thursday saw FCSB grabbing a 3-nil away win
    against Dinamo. FCSB threw quite a few of the substitute players on the pitch,
    yet they dominated the game all along. FCSB’s Adrian Popa provided the opener in
    32 minutes. The second goal was scored by Darius Olariu in minute 74. FCSB’s
    Cristian Dumitru scored the third goal on minute 83. Both matches were played
    in empty stadiums. The semifinals’ return leg is scheduled on July 8.

    League One fixtures are scheduled at the weekend. Matches counting
    towards Group 1’s fifth round are to be played on Friday, as Gaz Metan Medias
    takes on FC Botosani. CFR Cluj takes on Universitatea Craiova in a home game,
    on Sunday. This coming Monday, FCSB travels to Giurgiu, in the south, for a fixture
    against the local side Astra. CFR Cluj are at the top of the table; Cluj are
    four points clear from Craiova. In League One’s Group 2, fixtures count towards
    the championship’s sixth round. On Friday, FC Hermannstadt goes against Academica
    Clinceni. On Saturday, Chindia Targoviste faces Poli Iasi, while Sepsi Sfantu
    Gheorghe faces Viitorul Constanta. On Monday, Dinamo plays a home game against
    FC Voluntari.


    ( Translation by Eugen Nasta)


    —–

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Football matches counting towards the first
    leg of Romania’s Cup semifinals were played on Wednesday and Thursday. On
    Wednesday, the local side Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe
    trounced visitors Politehnica Iasi, 5-1. Poli drew first blood on five minutes,
    when Andrei Cristea scored from a penalty kick. Sepsi provided the equalizer thanks
    to their Dutch player Anass Achahbar, on 25 minutes. In the second half, Sepsi’s
    Lóránd Fülöp scored on 52 minutes. Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe’s performance was way
    above par on the pitch, for the last fifteen minutes of regular time, with the team from Covasna scoring
    no less than three goals. Sepsi’s Dutch footballer Achahbar scored his second
    goal in minute 75. On 81 minutes Politehnica Iasi’s keeper Denis Rusu fatefully
    scored an own goal. On 86 minutes, Sepsi’s Swiss footballer Goran Karanović sealed
    the fate of the game, scoring for the fifth time.

    The Cup’s other semifinal on Thursday saw FCSB grabbing a 3-nil away win
    against Dinamo. FCSB threw quite a few of the substitute players on the pitch,
    yet they dominated the game all along. FCSB’s Adrian Popa provided the opener in
    32 minutes. The second goal was scored by Darius Olariu in minute 74. FCSB’s
    Cristian Dumitru scored the third goal on minute 83. Both matches were played
    in empty stadiums. The semifinals’ return leg is scheduled on July 8.

    League One fixtures are scheduled at the weekend. Matches counting
    towards Group 1’s fifth round are to be played on Friday, as Gaz Metan Medias
    takes on FC Botosani. CFR Cluj takes on Universitatea Craiova in a home game,
    on Sunday. This coming Monday, FCSB travels to Giurgiu, in the south, for a fixture
    against the local side Astra. CFR Cluj are at the top of the table; Cluj are
    four points clear from Craiova. In League One’s Group 2, fixtures count towards
    the championship’s sixth round. On Friday, FC Hermannstadt goes against Academica
    Clinceni. On Saturday, Chindia Targoviste faces Poli Iasi, while Sepsi Sfantu
    Gheorghe faces Viitorul Constanta. On Monday, Dinamo plays a home game against
    FC Voluntari.


    ( Translation by Eugen Nasta)


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