Radio România Internațional

Tag: table

Sports flash

The Romanian men’s basketball team U-BT Cluj-Napoca sustained a 81-84 home defeat by German opponents
Ulm, in a match counting towards EuroCup’s Group A. Holders U-BT Cluj-Napoca sustained
their sixth defeat in the competition, in nine games they have played so far,
and are the last-but-one team in the group, being 9th -placed. U-BT Cluj-Napoca’s
next scheduled fixture on January 11 is a home confrontation with top-of-the-table
team, Bourg-en-Bresse of France.

In the FIBA
Europe Cup, SCM U Craiova sustained a 56-75 away defeat by French team Cholet
Basket. It was SCM U Craiova’s second defeat in a row, in a match counting
towards the second stage of the competition, Group A. In the group’s other
match, FC Porto grabbed a 94-87 away win against Niners Chemnitz. With two wins on the
record, Cholet are at the top of the table, while Craiova are 4th-placed, the
bottom-of-the-table position in the group. SCM U Craiova’s next scheduled match
on January 10 is the return leg against Niners, to be played in Chemnitz.

Also in the FIBA
Europe Cup, but in a Group L fixture this time, CSM CSU Oradea a sustained a 73-91 home defeat by Polish opponents Anwil Włocławek. CSM CSU Oradea have recently
succeeded a 82-80 notable win against German opponents Brose Bamberg, away
from home. On Wednesday, Brose Bamberg grabbed a 90-87
away win against Cypriot opponents Keravnos. With two wins on the record, Polish
team Włocławek are at the top of the table. CSM CSU Oradea and Bamberg follow,
with one win and two defeats each. On January 11, CSM CSU Oradea will next play
bottom-of-the-table squad, Keravnos, away from home.

In a fixture counting towards Champions
League’s Group B, Volei Alba Blaj women’s volleyball team on Wednesday sustained
a 1-3 defeat by Italian opponents Vero Volley Milan, in Targu Mures. In the group’s
other game on Tuesday, hosted by the Czech town of Kutna Hora, Ukrainian team Prometey
Dnipro grabbed a 3-2 win against French team Volero Le Cannet. Vero Volley Milan are
at the top of the table in Group B, while Volei Alba Blaj are 4th-placed.
Holders Volei Aba Blaj’s next scheduled confrontation on January 10 is the return
leg against Ukraine’s Prometey Dnipro, to be played in the Czech Republic’s Kutna
Hora, again. (EN)

22 December 2022
Sports flash

The Romanian men’s basketball team U-BT Cluj-Napoca sustained a 81-84 home defeat by German opponents
Ulm, in a match counting towards EuroCup’s Group A. Holders U-BT Cluj-Napoca sustained
their sixth defeat in the competition, in nine games they have played so far,
and are the last-but-one team in the group, being 9th -placed. U-BT Cluj-Napoca’s
next scheduled fixture on January 11 is a home confrontation with top-of-the-table
team, Bourg-en-Bresse of France.

In the FIBA
Europe Cup, SCM U Craiova sustained a 56-75 away defeat by French team Cholet
Basket. It was SCM U Craiova’s second defeat in a row, in a match counting
towards the second stage of the competition, Group A. In the group’s other
match, FC Porto grabbed a 94-87 away win against Niners Chemnitz. With two wins on the
record, Cholet are at the top of the table, while Craiova are 4th-placed, the
bottom-of-the-table position in the group. SCM U Craiova’s next scheduled match
on January 10 is the return leg against Niners, to be played in Chemnitz.

Also in the FIBA
Europe Cup, but in a Group L fixture this time, CSM CSU Oradea a sustained a 73-91 home defeat by Polish opponents Anwil Włocławek. CSM CSU Oradea have recently
succeeded a 82-80 notable win against German opponents Brose Bamberg, away
from home. On Wednesday, Brose Bamberg grabbed a 90-87
away win against Cypriot opponents Keravnos. With two wins on the record, Polish
team Włocławek are at the top of the table. CSM CSU Oradea and Bamberg follow,
with one win and two defeats each. On January 11, CSM CSU Oradea will next play
bottom-of-the-table squad, Keravnos, away from home.

In a fixture counting towards Champions
League’s Group B, Volei Alba Blaj women’s volleyball team on Wednesday sustained
a 1-3 defeat by Italian opponents Vero Volley Milan, in Targu Mures. In the group’s
other game on Tuesday, hosted by the Czech town of Kutna Hora, Ukrainian team Prometey
Dnipro grabbed a 3-2 win against French team Volero Le Cannet. Vero Volley Milan are
at the top of the table in Group B, while Volei Alba Blaj are 4th-placed.
Holders Volei Aba Blaj’s next scheduled confrontation on January 10 is the return
leg against Ukraine’s Prometey Dnipro, to be played in the Czech Republic’s Kutna
Hora, again. (EN)

22 December 2022
Sports flash

Romanian national women’s handball team in Skopje on Wednesday sustained a 32-28 defeat by Germany. The game was Romania’s last fixture as part of main group 2 and the last confrontation of the EHF EURO 2022, jointly hosted by Slovenia, North Macedonia de Nord and Montenegro. The defeat in the match against Montenegro took its toll on the Romanian lineup’s morale, so the team put on a lackluster game, in a no-stake confrontation. According to the EHF EURO 2022 final rankings, Romania will be 11th or 12th placed. In the first part of the group stage, Romania sustained a 28-29 defeat by the Netherlands, another defeat, by France, 21-32, then they grabbed a 31-23 win against North Macedonia. In the second part of the group stage, Romania was defeated by Montenegro by the narrowest of margins, 34-35 and sustained the recent defeat by Germany.

It was the Romanian national delegation’s 14th participation in a final tournament of the European Championship. At the 2020 edition, Romania came in 12th, a record-low, disheartening position for our national squad. Romania’s peak performance occurred in 2010, when the team walked away with bronze.

The match against Montenegro was crucial for both teams, in their bid to advance to the competition’s semi-finals. Romania was defeated by the narrowest of margins, which prompted the Romanian officials and the team members to take a broadside at the quality of the refereeing of the Austrian crew, made of Ana Vranes and Marlis Wenninger. The President of the Romanian Handball Federation, Constantin Din, announced they would submit a memorandum to the European Handball Federation. Among other things, Constantin Din said that the official memorandum would highlight the fact that the Romanian delegation deserved a lot more respect, and a lot more professionalism was required from the referees, who need to stick to the quality standards imposed by that competitional level. Mr Din also emphasized the quality of the refereeing did not measure up to the standards of a European Championship.

Romanian team leader, Cristina Neagu, stated that the referees should not have had the right to do the job. Neagu highlighted the fact that her team was simply denied the capacity to play with the refereeing decisions taken during the match. Cristina Neagu also said she thought the referees were unaware of what actually happened during the game, pointing to the fact that the referees simply did not know what they were refereeing. Cristina voiced hope that the referees would opt for watching the game and become aware of their own mistakes.

After the recently-held edition of the EHF EURO 2022, with 303 goals scored, Cristina Neagu has become an all-time top scorer for both the women’s and the men’s editions of the European Championships. Cristina thus toppled the previous top scorer, Icelandic handballer Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson, with his 288 goals.

Romania’s national football team has failed to qualify to the World Championship’s final tournament in Qatar. The team will play two friendly games, against Slovenia, on Thursday, November 17, in Cluj, and another match on Sunday, November 20, against the Republic of Moldova. The latter fixture will be hosted by the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau.

The Romanian tennis player Elizabeta Samara has been elected a member of the Athletes’ Commission as part of the International Table Tennis Federation. Of the 25 candidates, 33-year-old Samara got the biggest number of votes in favor, 212, accounting for 74.91% of the total number of votes. Samara would therefore have a four-year term in office. According to a post by the International Table Tennis Federation, taking part in the voting process were 283 athletes worldwide, over November 7 and 13. (EN)

17 November 2022
Sports flash

Romanian national women’s handball team in Skopje on Wednesday sustained a 32-28 defeat by Germany. The game was Romania’s last fixture as part of main group 2 and the last confrontation of the EHF EURO 2022, jointly hosted by Slovenia, North Macedonia de Nord and Montenegro. The defeat in the match against Montenegro took its toll on the Romanian lineup’s morale, so the team put on a lackluster game, in a no-stake confrontation. According to the EHF EURO 2022 final rankings, Romania will be 11th or 12th placed. In the first part of the group stage, Romania sustained a 28-29 defeat by the Netherlands, another defeat, by France, 21-32, then they grabbed a 31-23 win against North Macedonia. In the second part of the group stage, Romania was defeated by Montenegro by the narrowest of margins, 34-35 and sustained the recent defeat by Germany.

It was the Romanian national delegation’s 14th participation in a final tournament of the European Championship. At the 2020 edition, Romania came in 12th, a record-low, disheartening position for our national squad. Romania’s peak performance occurred in 2010, when the team walked away with bronze.

The match against Montenegro was crucial for both teams, in their bid to advance to the competition’s semi-finals. Romania was defeated by the narrowest of margins, which prompted the Romanian officials and the team members to take a broadside at the quality of the refereeing of the Austrian crew, made of Ana Vranes and Marlis Wenninger. The President of the Romanian Handball Federation, Constantin Din, announced they would submit a memorandum to the European Handball Federation. Among other things, Constantin Din said that the official memorandum would highlight the fact that the Romanian delegation deserved a lot more respect, and a lot more professionalism was required from the referees, who need to stick to the quality standards imposed by that competitional level. Mr Din also emphasized the quality of the refereeing did not measure up to the standards of a European Championship.

Romanian team leader, Cristina Neagu, stated that the referees should not have had the right to do the job. Neagu highlighted the fact that her team was simply denied the capacity to play with the refereeing decisions taken during the match. Cristina Neagu also said she thought the referees were unaware of what actually happened during the game, pointing to the fact that the referees simply did not know what they were refereeing. Cristina voiced hope that the referees would opt for watching the game and become aware of their own mistakes.

After the recently-held edition of the EHF EURO 2022, with 303 goals scored, Cristina Neagu has become an all-time top scorer for both the women’s and the men’s editions of the European Championships. Cristina thus toppled the previous top scorer, Icelandic handballer Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson, with his 288 goals.

Romania’s national football team has failed to qualify to the World Championship’s final tournament in Qatar. The team will play two friendly games, against Slovenia, on Thursday, November 17, in Cluj, and another match on Sunday, November 20, against the Republic of Moldova. The latter fixture will be hosted by the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau.

The Romanian tennis player Elizabeta Samara has been elected a member of the Athletes’ Commission as part of the International Table Tennis Federation. Of the 25 candidates, 33-year-old Samara got the biggest number of votes in favor, 212, accounting for 74.91% of the total number of votes. Samara would therefore have a four-year term in office. According to a post by the International Table Tennis Federation, taking part in the voting process were 283 athletes worldwide, over November 7 and 13. (EN)

17 November 2022
Sports flash

Romanian mens handball team Dinamo Bucharest on Wednesday won its first game as part of this years edition of the Champions League. In the Multi-purpose Sports Hall in Bucharest, Dinamo outclassed FC Porto, 32 to 27. The fixture counted towards the fourth leg of the Leagues group stage. Dynamos top scorer was their Egyptian handballer Ali Zein, cu 10 goals scored. According to the as-it-stands table, Dinamo are 5th-placed in Group A, with 3 points, in the wake of a win, a draw and two defeats. Dinamos next scheduled game on October 26, against Paris Saint-Germain, will also be on home court.

In mens volleyball, Arcada Galaţi secured a 3-nil away win against Bulgarian opponents Hebar Pazardjik, on Wednesday. The match counted towards the first leg of the Champions Leagues second preliminary round. It only took Arcada Galati one hour and 26 minutes of play to defeat Hebar Pazardjik, a team that in 2021 played in the Leagues group stage. Arcada Galati are the favorites to advancing to the Leagues third round, provided they also defeat Hebar Pazardjik in Galati, on October 12. Should they win, Arcada go against the winner of the confrontation pitting Croatias Mladost Zagreb against Lindaren Volley Amriswil of Switzerland. The winner will be competing in the Leagues Group B, alongside Germanys Berlin Recycling, din Germania, Warta Zawiercie of Poland and Halkbank Ankara of Turkey.

This past Wednesday, in a confrontation counting towards the round of 16 as part of the World teams Championships in Chengdu, China Romanian womens table tennis team sustained a 2-3 defeat by the team of Hong Kong. In the first match, Bernadette Szőcs was defeated by Chengzhu Zhu, 2-3, having had a 2-1 lead in sets. Then Elizabeta Samara sustained a 1-3 defeat in the game against Hoi Kem Doo. Adina Diaconu secured the Romanian teams first win, outclassing Ho Ching Lee, 3-1. Bernadette Szőcs levelled the score defeating Hoi Kem Doo, 3-1. However, in the last fixture, Salara lost to Chengzhu Zhu, 2 -3, after a 1-nil and a 2-1 lead in sets.(EN)

——

6 October 2022
Sports flash

Romanian mens handball team Dinamo Bucharest on Wednesday won its first game as part of this years edition of the Champions League. In the Multi-purpose Sports Hall in Bucharest, Dinamo outclassed FC Porto, 32 to 27. The fixture counted towards the fourth leg of the Leagues group stage. Dynamos top scorer was their Egyptian handballer Ali Zein, cu 10 goals scored. According to the as-it-stands table, Dinamo are 5th-placed in Group A, with 3 points, in the wake of a win, a draw and two defeats. Dinamos next scheduled game on October 26, against Paris Saint-Germain, will also be on home court.

In mens volleyball, Arcada Galaţi secured a 3-nil away win against Bulgarian opponents Hebar Pazardjik, on Wednesday. The match counted towards the first leg of the Champions Leagues second preliminary round. It only took Arcada Galati one hour and 26 minutes of play to defeat Hebar Pazardjik, a team that in 2021 played in the Leagues group stage. Arcada Galati are the favorites to advancing to the Leagues third round, provided they also defeat Hebar Pazardjik in Galati, on October 12. Should they win, Arcada go against the winner of the confrontation pitting Croatias Mladost Zagreb against Lindaren Volley Amriswil of Switzerland. The winner will be competing in the Leagues Group B, alongside Germanys Berlin Recycling, din Germania, Warta Zawiercie of Poland and Halkbank Ankara of Turkey.

This past Wednesday, in a confrontation counting towards the round of 16 as part of the World teams Championships in Chengdu, China Romanian womens table tennis team sustained a 2-3 defeat by the team of Hong Kong. In the first match, Bernadette Szőcs was defeated by Chengzhu Zhu, 2-3, having had a 2-1 lead in sets. Then Elizabeta Samara sustained a 1-3 defeat in the game against Hoi Kem Doo. Adina Diaconu secured the Romanian teams first win, outclassing Ho Ching Lee, 3-1. Bernadette Szőcs levelled the score defeating Hoi Kem Doo, 3-1. However, in the last fixture, Salara lost to Chengzhu Zhu, 2 -3, after a 1-nil and a 2-1 lead in sets.(EN)

——

6 October 2022
Athlete of the week

Last week’s attention-grabbing event was the Europa Top-16
table tennis tournament hosted by the city of Montreux in Switzerland. Each year
the event brings together Europe’s top-flight table tennis players. In 2022,
representing Romania in the women’s version of the tournament were Bernadette
Szőcs and Elizabeta Samara. Szőcs had the best run, coming in 3rd according
to the final rankings. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to
designate Bernadette Szőcs the Athlete of the week.

In Montreux, in the round of 16, Bernadette Szőcs outclassed Portugal’s Jieni
Shao, 4-2. In the quarterfinals, Bernie
won the match against Dutch opponent Britt Eerland, also 4-2. However, in the semi-finals,
Bernadette Szőcs lost the game against German challenger Ying Han, nil-4. In
the quarterfinals, Han also defeated Elizabeta Samara, 4-3. Germany’s Ying Han
eventually won the tournament, grabbing a 4-nil win against Russian challenger Polina
Mikhaylova, 4-nil.

Bernadette Szőcs was born on March 5th, 1995 la Târgu Mureş (central Transylvania).
She took up sports at the age of 8. Her results in cadets and juniors’ competitions
were quick to appear. Bernadette won several medals in European and world competitions
and saw herself in the upper part of the echelon according to world rankings rather
quickly. In 2010, when the official financial support in Romania was scarce, Bernadette
Szőcs intended to relocate to Norway and compete for that Scandinavian country
but eventually she did not succeed to carry her project through. In 2016, at
the European championship in Budapest, Bernie came in 3rd in the
mixed doubles event, jointly with Ovidiu Ionescu. In 2017, at the European
championship in Luxembourg, Bernadette Szőcs won her
first European title, with Romania’s national team. In 2019, in Nantes, Bernadette
also won the European title in the nations’ competition. Meanwhile, in Montreux,
in 2018, Bernie won the Europa Top-16 tournament. Bernadette Szőcs is 23rd-placed
according to the as-it-stands world classification. The other Romanian, Elizabeta
Samara, is 31st- placed according to the same rankings.

(EN)

1 March 2022
Athlete of the week

Last week’s attention-grabbing event was the Europa Top-16
table tennis tournament hosted by the city of Montreux in Switzerland. Each year
the event brings together Europe’s top-flight table tennis players. In 2022,
representing Romania in the women’s version of the tournament were Bernadette
Szőcs and Elizabeta Samara. Szőcs had the best run, coming in 3rd according
to the final rankings. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to
designate Bernadette Szőcs the Athlete of the week.

In Montreux, in the round of 16, Bernadette Szőcs outclassed Portugal’s Jieni
Shao, 4-2. In the quarterfinals, Bernie
won the match against Dutch opponent Britt Eerland, also 4-2. However, in the semi-finals,
Bernadette Szőcs lost the game against German challenger Ying Han, nil-4. In
the quarterfinals, Han also defeated Elizabeta Samara, 4-3. Germany’s Ying Han
eventually won the tournament, grabbing a 4-nil win against Russian challenger Polina
Mikhaylova, 4-nil.

Bernadette Szőcs was born on March 5th, 1995 la Târgu Mureş (central Transylvania).
She took up sports at the age of 8. Her results in cadets and juniors’ competitions
were quick to appear. Bernadette won several medals in European and world competitions
and saw herself in the upper part of the echelon according to world rankings rather
quickly. In 2010, when the official financial support in Romania was scarce, Bernadette
Szőcs intended to relocate to Norway and compete for that Scandinavian country
but eventually she did not succeed to carry her project through. In 2016, at
the European championship in Budapest, Bernie came in 3rd in the
mixed doubles event, jointly with Ovidiu Ionescu. In 2017, at the European
championship in Luxembourg, Bernadette Szőcs won her
first European title, with Romania’s national team. In 2019, in Nantes, Bernadette
also won the European title in the nations’ competition. Meanwhile, in Montreux,
in 2018, Bernie won the Europa Top-16 tournament. Bernadette Szőcs is 23rd-placed
according to the as-it-stands world classification. The other Romanian, Elizabeta
Samara, is 31st- placed according to the same rankings.

(EN)

1 March 2022
Sports Roundup

Romanian table tennis player Bernadette Szőcs came
in 3rd at the Europa Top-16 tournament in Montreux, Switzerland. In
the semifinals, Szocs was defeated by German challenger Ying Han, 4-nil. A 2018
champion, also in Montreux, Bernadette Szőcs was for the 8th time
taking part in the competition that brings together Europe’ s top-flight women table
tennis players. We recall that in Thessalonica in 2021, Szocs was 3rd-placed
and 2nd-placed, in 2019.

Romania’ s national rugby squad has dramatically
decreased its chances to secure a straight qualification to the World Cup 2023.
This past Sunday, the Romanian national team sustained a 28-31 defeat by Spain. The latter team scored no less than 5 tries. Romania had a poor
run on the pitch, with flaws galore, in the defensive game but also in the handling
of the ball, mostly in the first half. Romania scored three tries, of which two
by Hinckley Vaovasa and one by Marius Simionescu. Romania’s
Ionel Melinte successfully converted the team’s first try, while Daniel Plai converted
the text two. Qualifying straight to the 2023 edition of the World Cup are the
first two teams of the 2021 and 2022 rankings all told. The third-placed team
plays the repechage. If they still want to keep their hopes alive for a straight
qualification, on March the 12 in Bucharest the Romanians must defeat the competition’s
best team, Georgia.

For the seventh time Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe has won
Romanian Cup in women’s basketball. In this past Sunday’s final
against Municipal Satu Mare, Sepsi
won, 59-53. Holders Sepsi made the difference in the last fifteen minutes
of play. When the score board displayed a 52-53 advantage for Satu Mare, Sepsi scored
seven points in a row in the last 95 seconds of play.

Matches counting towards the 28th round of
the regular football season were played at the weekend. On Friday in Arad, UTA
defeated Academica Clinceni, 2-nil, while on home turf, Universitatea Craiova
defeated Chindia Târgoviște, 1-nil. In Medias on Saturday, Gaz
Metan sustained a 3 defeat by FC U Craiova. In Sfântu Gheorghe, CFR Cluj secured a 2-nil win against Sepsi. In the 28th
round’s derby that pitted Rapid Bucharest against Dinamo the score was 1-all. On
Sunday, the game pitting FC Arges against FC Voluntari ended in a blank draw. FC
Botosani were also held by CS Mioveni to a blank draw. The 28th round’s surprise was provided by Farul
Constanta, the team that succeeded a 2-nil away win against FCSB. Two rounds ahead of the closing of the regular season, CFR Cluj are at
the top of the table, with 70 points, FCSB are 2nd-placed with 59
points.

(EN)

28 February 2022
Sports Roundup

Romanian table tennis player Bernadette Szőcs came
in 3rd at the Europa Top-16 tournament in Montreux, Switzerland. In
the semifinals, Szocs was defeated by German challenger Ying Han, 4-nil. A 2018
champion, also in Montreux, Bernadette Szőcs was for the 8th time
taking part in the competition that brings together Europe’ s top-flight women table
tennis players. We recall that in Thessalonica in 2021, Szocs was 3rd-placed
and 2nd-placed, in 2019.

Romania’ s national rugby squad has dramatically
decreased its chances to secure a straight qualification to the World Cup 2023.
This past Sunday, the Romanian national team sustained a 28-31 defeat by Spain. The latter team scored no less than 5 tries. Romania had a poor
run on the pitch, with flaws galore, in the defensive game but also in the handling
of the ball, mostly in the first half. Romania scored three tries, of which two
by Hinckley Vaovasa and one by Marius Simionescu. Romania’s
Ionel Melinte successfully converted the team’s first try, while Daniel Plai converted
the text two. Qualifying straight to the 2023 edition of the World Cup are the
first two teams of the 2021 and 2022 rankings all told. The third-placed team
plays the repechage. If they still want to keep their hopes alive for a straight
qualification, on March the 12 in Bucharest the Romanians must defeat the competition’s
best team, Georgia.

For the seventh time Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe has won
Romanian Cup in women’s basketball. In this past Sunday’s final
against Municipal Satu Mare, Sepsi
won, 59-53. Holders Sepsi made the difference in the last fifteen minutes
of play. When the score board displayed a 52-53 advantage for Satu Mare, Sepsi scored
seven points in a row in the last 95 seconds of play.

Matches counting towards the 28th round of
the regular football season were played at the weekend. On Friday in Arad, UTA
defeated Academica Clinceni, 2-nil, while on home turf, Universitatea Craiova
defeated Chindia Târgoviște, 1-nil. In Medias on Saturday, Gaz
Metan sustained a 3 defeat by FC U Craiova. In Sfântu Gheorghe, CFR Cluj secured a 2-nil win against Sepsi. In the 28th
round’s derby that pitted Rapid Bucharest against Dinamo the score was 1-all. On
Sunday, the game pitting FC Arges against FC Voluntari ended in a blank draw. FC
Botosani were also held by CS Mioveni to a blank draw. The 28th round’s surprise was provided by Farul
Constanta, the team that succeeded a 2-nil away win against FCSB. Two rounds ahead of the closing of the regular season, CFR Cluj are at
the top of the table, with 70 points, FCSB are 2nd-placed with 59
points.

(EN)

28 February 2022
Sports Weekend

In the World Table Tennis Championships held in
Houston, USA, the Romanian player Bernadette Szőcs qualified into the
eighth-finals. In the 3rd round, she defeated the South Korean Jeon
Jihee, 4-2. In another 3rd-round match, Andreea Dragoman was
outplayed by Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand), 4-2. In the women’s doubles, Elizabeta
Samara and Andreea Dragoman will play in the eighth-finals, after beating the
Egyptians Yousra Helmy and Farah Abdel-Aziz, 3-nil, in the round of 32.

In men’s handball Champions League, Group B, Dinamo
Bucharest was defeated on Thursday at home by the German side Flensburg-Handewitt,
28-20. This is the second consecutive match the Romanian champions lost to
Flensburg, with the latter also winning last week in Germany, 37-30. In the
group standings after 8 rounds, Dinamo are ranking 8th, with only 4
points. Interestingly enough, the only 2 matches won by the Bucharest side were
those against the current group leaders, Kielce (Poland) and Veszprem (Hungary).

We move on to football, in the European Conference
League, CFR Cluj missed their last chance at moving past the group stage. On Thursday
coach Dan Petrescu’s team were defeated away from home by the Danish side Randers,
2-1. CFR will finish last in its group regardless of the results in the last
match, against the Czech side Jablonec, due in Cluj on 9th December.

This weekend sees games counting towards the 17th
round of the Romanian League One. The only match scheduled on Friday, Dinamo
Bucharest vs FC U Craiova, will be followed on Saturday by games pitting Sepsi
Sfântu Gheorghe on home turf against Chindia Târgoviște, UTA against FC Argeș, and
Rapid Bucharest against CS Mioveni, in Giurgiu. On Sunday, FC Botoșani take on FC
Voluntari, on home turf, and Universitatea Craiova on FCSB. The last 2 matches
of the round, Gaz Metan Mediaș vs. Farul Constanța and CFR Cluj vs. Academica, are
to be played on Monday. In the current standings, CFR Cluj are in the lead with
42 points, followed by FCSB, with 34, and by Universitatea Craiova and FC
Voluntari, 28 points each.

Also this weekend, the city of Cluj-Napoca is
hosting the tennis competition between Romania and Peru. The winner
gets into the Davis Cup playoffs for a place in the final tournament, which
brings together the world’s best 16 national teams. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

26 November 2021
Sports Weekend

In the World Table Tennis Championships held in
Houston, USA, the Romanian player Bernadette Szőcs qualified into the
eighth-finals. In the 3rd round, she defeated the South Korean Jeon
Jihee, 4-2. In another 3rd-round match, Andreea Dragoman was
outplayed by Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand), 4-2. In the women’s doubles, Elizabeta
Samara and Andreea Dragoman will play in the eighth-finals, after beating the
Egyptians Yousra Helmy and Farah Abdel-Aziz, 3-nil, in the round of 32.

In men’s handball Champions League, Group B, Dinamo
Bucharest was defeated on Thursday at home by the German side Flensburg-Handewitt,
28-20. This is the second consecutive match the Romanian champions lost to
Flensburg, with the latter also winning last week in Germany, 37-30. In the
group standings after 8 rounds, Dinamo are ranking 8th, with only 4
points. Interestingly enough, the only 2 matches won by the Bucharest side were
those against the current group leaders, Kielce (Poland) and Veszprem (Hungary).

We move on to football, in the European Conference
League, CFR Cluj missed their last chance at moving past the group stage. On Thursday
coach Dan Petrescu’s team were defeated away from home by the Danish side Randers,
2-1. CFR will finish last in its group regardless of the results in the last
match, against the Czech side Jablonec, due in Cluj on 9th December.

This weekend sees games counting towards the 17th
round of the Romanian League One. The only match scheduled on Friday, Dinamo
Bucharest vs FC U Craiova, will be followed on Saturday by games pitting Sepsi
Sfântu Gheorghe on home turf against Chindia Târgoviște, UTA against FC Argeș, and
Rapid Bucharest against CS Mioveni, in Giurgiu. On Sunday, FC Botoșani take on FC
Voluntari, on home turf, and Universitatea Craiova on FCSB. The last 2 matches
of the round, Gaz Metan Mediaș vs. Farul Constanța and CFR Cluj vs. Academica, are
to be played on Monday. In the current standings, CFR Cluj are in the lead with
42 points, followed by FCSB, with 34, and by Universitatea Craiova and FC
Voluntari, 28 points each.

Also this weekend, the city of Cluj-Napoca is
hosting the tennis competition between Romania and Peru. The winner
gets into the Davis Cup playoffs for a place in the final tournament, which
brings together the world’s best 16 national teams. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

26 November 2021
Sports flash

Romanian international footballer’s Ciprian Tatarusanu’s team, AC Milan on
Wednesday succeeded its first win in the Champions League’s ongoing season. Romanian
goalkeeper’s team grabbed a 1-nil away win against Atletico Madrid, in a
fixture counting towards the competition’s Group B. Tatarusanu was on the pitch
all throughout the game. First-timer Messias Junior put his team ahead on 87
minutes, so AC Milan stays in the race for the League’s round of 16. Another
Romanian, central referee Ovidiu Hateganu, a coordinated an all-Romanian referee
crew for the match pitting Internationale Milan against Shakhktar Donetsk. Inter
won, 2-nil.

In Houston, Texas, the USA, Bernadette Szőcs and Andreea Dragoman have
advanced to the World Table Tennis Championships’ third round. In the women’s
singles’ second round, Szőcs outclassed Polish Natalia Bajor, 4-1, while Dragoman
grabbed a 4-3 win against Germany’s Petrissa Solja. Adina Diaconu lost to
French opponent Jia Nan Yuan, nil-4. Elizabeta Samara sustained a defeat by
Taiwan’s Liu Hsing-Yin, also nil-4. In the men’s singles, Cristian Pletea was
defeated by Cyril Skachev of Russia. 4-2. Pletea was the only Romanian left who
competed in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.

In Sibiu, central Romania, in a CEV Cup fixture counting towards the round
of 32’s second leg, Romanian women’s volleyball team Volei Alba Blaj have advanced
to the competition’s round of 16, having defeated Hungarian opponents Vasas
Budapest 3-nil on Wednesday. Volei Alba Blaj had also won the first leg in
Budapest, 3-1. In the round of 16, Alba Blaj are pitted against Greek opponents
PAOK Thessalonica. The first leg is scheduled away from home.

In news from women’s basketball, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe advanced to EuroCup.
On Wednesday, Sepsi grabbed a 71-65 away win against Elazig Oezel Idare of Turkey.
For Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe, it was the last but one match in the competition’s
Group B. We recall Sepsi have already secured one of the first two positions that
takes them to the Euro CUP’s next stage. In the competition’s group stage, Sepsi
take on Uni Gyor on December the 1st, away from home.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

25 November 2021
Sports flash

Romanian international footballer’s Ciprian Tatarusanu’s team, AC Milan on
Wednesday succeeded its first win in the Champions League’s ongoing season. Romanian
goalkeeper’s team grabbed a 1-nil away win against Atletico Madrid, in a
fixture counting towards the competition’s Group B. Tatarusanu was on the pitch
all throughout the game. First-timer Messias Junior put his team ahead on 87
minutes, so AC Milan stays in the race for the League’s round of 16. Another
Romanian, central referee Ovidiu Hateganu, a coordinated an all-Romanian referee
crew for the match pitting Internationale Milan against Shakhktar Donetsk. Inter
won, 2-nil.

In Houston, Texas, the USA, Bernadette Szőcs and Andreea Dragoman have
advanced to the World Table Tennis Championships’ third round. In the women’s
singles’ second round, Szőcs outclassed Polish Natalia Bajor, 4-1, while Dragoman
grabbed a 4-3 win against Germany’s Petrissa Solja. Adina Diaconu lost to
French opponent Jia Nan Yuan, nil-4. Elizabeta Samara sustained a defeat by
Taiwan’s Liu Hsing-Yin, also nil-4. In the men’s singles, Cristian Pletea was
defeated by Cyril Skachev of Russia. 4-2. Pletea was the only Romanian left who
competed in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.

In Sibiu, central Romania, in a CEV Cup fixture counting towards the round
of 32’s second leg, Romanian women’s volleyball team Volei Alba Blaj have advanced
to the competition’s round of 16, having defeated Hungarian opponents Vasas
Budapest 3-nil on Wednesday. Volei Alba Blaj had also won the first leg in
Budapest, 3-1. In the round of 16, Alba Blaj are pitted against Greek opponents
PAOK Thessalonica. The first leg is scheduled away from home.

In news from women’s basketball, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe advanced to EuroCup.
On Wednesday, Sepsi grabbed a 71-65 away win against Elazig Oezel Idare of Turkey.
For Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe, it was the last but one match in the competition’s
Group B. We recall Sepsi have already secured one of the first two positions that
takes them to the Euro CUP’s next stage. In the competition’s group stage, Sepsi
take on Uni Gyor on December the 1st, away from home.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

25 November 2021
Athlete of the week

The European table tennis championships
were held in Polish capital city Warsaw late last week. For the
event, the Romanian delegation was made of the best table tennis
players of the national lineups, among whom, European champions
Elizabeta Samara, Bernadette Szőcs and Daniela Dodean Monteiro.
Romanian delegation’s set objective was to test the athletes’ level
of training ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. We recall that securing
their participation to the Olympics in Japan was Romanian women’s
table tennis team made of three athletes. Bernadette competed in the
women’s singles and the mixed doubles, Elizabeta Samara, in the
women’s singles, while Ovidiu Ionescu participated in the men’s
singles and the mixed doubles.

The event in Warsaw was the litmus test for Romanian athletes’ real level of training and performance; the
Romanians still have a lot of things to improve, while their run at
the recently-held championships was a below-par one. The 2018
European vice-champion Ovidiu Ionescu was unable to go past the
quarterfinals. In the women’s version of the event, only four
Romanian table tennis players reached as far as the round of 32.
Adina Diaconu and Bernadette Szőcs were unable to push themselves
forward in the competition. Daniela Dodean made it to the the round
of 16 but she stopped right there. Elizabeta Samara played the semis,
but she was defeated by Germany’s Petrissa Solja, who went on to win
the European title. Eliza walked away with the bronze medal, which,
all things considered, was the Romanian delegation’s best result.
Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Elizabeta
Samara the Athlete of the week.

Elizabeta Samara was born on April 15,
1989, in Constanta. Her record, among other things, includes a string
of European titles she won in the women’s singles, women’s doubles or
mixed doubles events. Eliza also won the European title with the
national women’s team. Elizabeta Samara participated in three
editions of the Olympics, in Beijing, in 2008, in London, in 2012 and
in Rio, in 2016. Elizabeta is currently signed up by the Army’s
Steaua Bucharest Sports Club.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)

29 June 2021