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Radio Romania International Sports club

Among the great athletes who sadly passed away in 2024 there is former handball legend and head-coach Ştefan Birtalan. He was born on September 25, 1948 in Zalau, northern Romania. When in high school he took up handball, volleyball, basketball and athletics.

Minerul Baia Mare was among the first teams Birtalan was signed up by. Minerul got first promoted to the second-tier division, Division B, and then to Division A. From 1970 to 1985, with an interruption from 1981 to 1983, Stefan Birtalan played for Steaua Bucharest, a team with which he won the domestic championship title 12 times. With Steaua Bucharest Army Club, in 1971 Birtalan was a European Champions Cup finalist. We recall Steaua won the Cup in 1977.

In 1974, 1976 and 1977, Birtalan was awarded Romania’s best athlete title. For the Romanian national teams, he had been playing from 1966 when he made his debut with the juniors’ national teams. In 1968, at the age of 20, Birtalan scooped Romania’s best athlete title. He was then selected for the national seniors’ team, when they won the world title in Paris, in 1970, and in Berlin, in 1974, in then the German Democratic Republic. Also in Berlin, in 1974, Stefan Birtalan was designated top scorer, with 43 goals scored.

Birtalan participated in three editions of the Olympic games. In Munich, in 1972, when Romania walked away with bronze, Birtalan played only one game. However, in 1976, in Montreal, where Romania won the silver medals, Birtalan played in six games and was the competition’s most efficient scorer, with 32 goals scored. In 1980, in Moscow, he participated in an edition of the Olympic Games for the third time around, walking home with a bronze medal. Birtalan played in all six fixtures Romania had on schedule, scoring 23 goals.

As a head-coach, Ştefan Birtalan began his career in the Italian second-tier league, with Follonica. Upon his return to Romania, he was Radu Voina’s deputy head-coach with Steaua Bucharest. Concurrently, Birtalan trained Romania’s men’s youth national team. From 1991 to 1994, Stefan Birtalan was Steaua’s head-coach. Birtalan then activated in Qatar, as a coordinating head-coach of all national handball teams of the Gulf Country.

In 2002, Birtalan gave up being a head-coach altogether because of health problems. He was then co-opted by Steaua Bucharest in the handball section’s management staff.

21 February 2025
Radio Romania International Sports club

Many-time world and Olympic medalist, veteran kayak rower Vasile Diba died on February 20, 2024. The first Romanian Olympic kayak champion was born on July 24, 1954, in the Tulcea County locality of Jurilovca, in the east.

Diba made his debut in rowing with the Delta Tulcea sports club in 1970, under the supervision of one of Romania’s greatest coaches, Igor Lipalit. In 1971, Vasile Dina succeeded his first great performance winning the national juniors’ title in men’s canoe sprint kayak single 500m race. Also in 1971, on the Snagov Lake in Romania, Diba became European juniors’ vice-champion in men’s kayak double.

In 1973, being drafted for the military service in the structures of the Internal Affairs Ministry, Vasile Dîba was signed up by Dinamo Bucharest sports club. In 1977, Diba wins his first world titles in a seniors’ competition in Mexico’s Xochimilco. Diba won the title in men’s canoe sprint kayak single 500m race. Also, he was part of the team that won kayak 4x500m relay race.

Vasile Diba’s career continued, until the end, with Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club. In 1976, as part of the Olympic Games in Montreal, Diba won the gold medal in men’s canoe sprint kayak single 500m race and the bronze medal in the 1,000m race. Also in the 500m and 1,000m races, in 1977 Vasile Diba won the world title in Sofia. In 1978, he retained his title in the 500m race at the World Championships in former Yugoslavia.

In Moscow in 1980, Vasile Diba participated in the Olympics for the second time around in his career. Back then he won bronze in men’s canoe sprint kayak single 500m race and silver with men’s kayak four crew. Vasile Diba also took the start in the Los Angeles Olympics, in 1984, but he was unable to step onto a step of the podium.

Vasile Dîba retired from competition in 1987. His record until them had been a scintillating one,so Diba is one of Romania’s greatest kayak rowers of all time. After he retired from competition, Diba opted for quitting the world of sports altogether, joining the Internal Affairs Ministry enforcement structures. He worked in the ministry’s Judiciary section in a Bucharest-based police station until 2001, when he retired.

20 February 2025
August 25, 2024 UPDATE

WEATHER Monday will be the 14^th day of uninterrupted hot weather in Romania. The highs of the day will be ranging between 31 and 38 degrees Celsius, slightly lower on the Black Sea coast. Meteorologists have issued fresh code yellow and orange alerts for large areas in several Romanian counties, whose residents are bracing up for more days of thermal discomfort. 36 degrees Celsius are expected in Bucharest and a rain shower in the evening.

TENNIS A Romanian-Chinese pair made up of Monica Niculescu and Hanyu Guo has won the title of the doubles competition of the WTA 500 tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico. The two clinched a 3-6, 6-3, 10-4 win against the odds-on favourites Giuliana Olmos of Mexico and Alexandra Panova of Russia in a match that lasted one hour and 34 minutes. Monica and Hanyu got more than 47 thousand dollars and 500 WTA points. This has been Monica’s 12^th title in the doubles contests and the second this year after the one in Strasbourg together with Cristina Bucsa of Spain. Niculescu, who will turn 37 on September 25^th, has also lost 23 finals in doubles competitions and reaped three WTA titles in singles.

NOMINEE The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), was officially nominated as the PSD candidate for the upcoming presidential election during a PSD congress held in Bucharest yesterday. He was also reconfirmed as president of the Political-Parliamentarian formation, which is presently co-ruling Romania. In a speech delivered at the event, Ciolacu presented the programme with which he wants to win the highest position in Romania. The country’s industry, agriculture and public services are the main axes of his strategy. According to him, the Social-Democrats have managed to win the trust of the Romanians through unity, and he proposes a new type of president, ‘a president for all’. Most of the PSD members who took the floor during the Congress lashed out at their partners in the coalition that is presently ruling Romania and made ironical statements against the country’s incumbent president Klaus Iohannis. The Social-Democrats haven’t won the presidential election since the year 2000. The first round of the presidential ballot is due on November 24 and the second on December 8.

MEDALS Students from Romania have walked away with four medals from the International Geography Olympiad hosted by the Irish capital Dublin over August 19^th and 24^th. David Mihai Dumitrescu, from the National College ‘Carol l’ in Craiova, south-western Romania, won gold in Dublin and Ian Mitocaru, from the National College in Iasi became silver medalist. Tudor Olariu from the Iasi-based ‘Costache Negruzzi College’ and Iustin Balan from the ‘Garabet Ibraileanu’ National College in Iasi stepped onto the podium third step. According to the Education Ministry in Bucharest, Romania’s team in Dublin has been coordinated by teachers Mihaela and Dorin Fiscutean of the National College in Iasi.

COAL According to the National Institute for Statistics in Bucharest, Romania’s coal production dropped by 20% in the first six months of the year against the same period of 2023. The country’s coal imports have also dropped by 30%, the same report says. According to the estimates of the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis, this downward trend is likely to continue in the following years as other energy-production facilities will become operational. The EU’s consumption and production of coal last year dropped by 23%, to its lowest level in recorded history, says the EU statistical Office, Eurostat. According to the same sources, the 100 million ton slump in the coal production in a single year is one of the sharpest ever registered in the EU for this type of fuel. With almost two thirds of the entire EU consumption, Germany and Poland were the biggest coal consumers.

TALKS The government in Bucharest will hold talks next week on a first series of measures aimed at supporting the farmers affected by drought. Authorities are considering a series of compensations but also a new support package for the next year. The state will offer an insurance bonus of 3 thousand lei per hectare and amend the conditions needed for getting the Farmer Loan. Suspending the payment of installments for high interest credits until October next year is also being considered.

(bill)

25 August 2024
Radio Romania International Sports Club

The World Rugby Cup, to be held this coming autumn in France, is one of 2023s headline-hitting events. The audience is bound to be global, given that rugby is popular on almost all continents, perhaps less so in Asia. Rugby has for long gained ground in Europe, America, Australia and Oceania. Hailing from Africa are the Springboks. The South-African team is the current World Cup holders.

The World Cup begins on September 8, when the Stade de France in Paris plays host to the match pitting France against New Zealand. The fixture counts towards Group A, also including Italy, Uruguay and Namibia. On September 9 in Bordeaux, Romania plays its debut game against the Republic of Ireland. Also in Bordeaux, on September 17, Romanian takes on defending title holders South Africa. Then the game against Scotland follows, on September 30 in Lille. Romania s last fixture as part of the World Cup is the confrontation against Tonga on October 8th, also in Lille.

In its training stage ahead of the World Cup, on Saturday in Bucharest, Romania played the team of the United States. The Romanians were trounced, 17-31. The Romanian team scored three tries, of which only one was successfully converted. The US rugby players scored five times, while three of the tries were successfully converted. Ahead of its departure to France, Romania has two more games to play, against Georgia, in Tbilisi on Saturday and against Italy in San Benedetto del Tronto in a week. Romanias friendly games will decide the final, 33-strong pool of regulars representing Romania at the World Cup in France.

9 August 2023
Sports flash

Matches
counting towards the U-21 European Football Championship’s final tournament
kick-started in Romania and Georgia this past Wednesday. In Bucharest, Romania
sustained a nil-3 defeat by Spain. Also in Bucharest, Ukraine defeated Croatia,
2-nil. In Georgia’s Tbilisi, host country
squad grabbed a 2-nil win against Portugal, while the match pitting The Netherlands
against Belgium ended in an unassuming blank draw.

Also in
news from football, the Romanian teams know who their opponents are, in the European
competitions’ preliminaries. In the Champions League’s first preliminary round,
Farul Constanta goes against Republic of Moldova title holders Sheriff
Tiraspol. Gheorghe Hagi’s trainees play the first leg on home turf in Ovidiu, on
July 11 or 12, while the return leg will be played in Chisinau, on July 18 or
19. In the Europa Conference League’s second preliminary round, FCSB and Sepsi
OSK Sfântu Gheorghe play Bulgarian teams PFC ŢSKA Sofia and FC ŢSKA 1948 Sofia,
respectively. Both legs of the tie are scheduled abroad for the Romanian
teams, on July 27, while the return legs are scheduled on August 3rd on home turf. CFR Cluj takes on Turkey’s Adana Demirspor, with the first leg of the tie
scheduled in Cluj Napoca, on July 27.

In the
Champions League in women’s handball’s next edition, two teams will represent Romania.
Apart from holders CSM Bucharest,
the vice-champion team, Rapid, also got through. We recall that in the League’s
previous edition both
CSM and Rapid reached as far as the quarterfinals, However, in the men’s
version of the League, Dinamo Bucharest’s application to play in the Champions League
was turned down. Holders Dinamo Bucharest will play in the EHF league the next
season.

As part of the European Games in Krakow, Romania’s
women’s three-ex-three basketball team is at the top of the table in Group B,
after the first two fixtures. On Wednesday, Romania defeated Austria, 17-14, and
Germany, 15-13. On Friday, Romania will play its last group match, the fixture
against Greece. The first two teams in descending order advance to the quarterfinals.

22 June 2023
Sports flash

Matches
counting towards the U-21 European Football Championship’s final tournament
kick-started in Romania and Georgia this past Wednesday. In Bucharest, Romania
sustained a nil-3 defeat by Spain. Also in Bucharest, Ukraine defeated Croatia,
2-nil. In Georgia’s Tbilisi, host country
squad grabbed a 2-nil win against Portugal, while the match pitting The Netherlands
against Belgium ended in an unassuming blank draw.

Also in
news from football, the Romanian teams know who their opponents are, in the European
competitions’ preliminaries. In the Champions League’s first preliminary round,
Farul Constanta goes against Republic of Moldova title holders Sheriff
Tiraspol. Gheorghe Hagi’s trainees play the first leg on home turf in Ovidiu, on
July 11 or 12, while the return leg will be played in Chisinau, on July 18 or
19. In the Europa Conference League’s second preliminary round, FCSB and Sepsi
OSK Sfântu Gheorghe play Bulgarian teams PFC ŢSKA Sofia and FC ŢSKA 1948 Sofia,
respectively. Both legs of the tie are scheduled abroad for the Romanian
teams, on July 27, while the return legs are scheduled on August 3rd on home turf. CFR Cluj takes on Turkey’s Adana Demirspor, with the first leg of the tie
scheduled in Cluj Napoca, on July 27.

In the
Champions League in women’s handball’s next edition, two teams will represent Romania.
Apart from holders CSM Bucharest,
the vice-champion team, Rapid, also got through. We recall that in the League’s
previous edition both
CSM and Rapid reached as far as the quarterfinals, However, in the men’s
version of the League, Dinamo Bucharest’s application to play in the Champions League
was turned down. Holders Dinamo Bucharest will play in the EHF league the next
season.

As part of the European Games in Krakow, Romania’s
women’s three-ex-three basketball team is at the top of the table in Group B,
after the first two fixtures. On Wednesday, Romania defeated Austria, 17-14, and
Germany, 15-13. On Friday, Romania will play its last group match, the fixture
against Greece. The first two teams in descending order advance to the quarterfinals.

22 June 2023
Radio Romania International Sports club

Grand master Kyrill Shevchenko, representing Romania, walked away with silver at the European Individual Chess Championship held in Serbia’s Vrnjacka Banja, over March 2nd and the 14th. After 11 rounds played stepping on a step of the podium were Grand masters Alexey Sarana (a Russian chess-player who entered the competition under the flag of the International Chess federation, FIDE), Kyrill Shevchenko (Romania) and Daniel Dardha (Belgium). The three were awarded 8.5 points each, yet they stepped onto a different step of the podium, according to the Bucholtz score, which is calculated by adding the raw scores of each of the opponents they played and multiplying this total by the player’s raw score. Therefore, Kyrill Shevchenko’s success is all the more noteworthy, since the 23rd edition of the European Individual Chess Championship held in the resort of Vrnjacka Banja brought together over 490 chess players of 40 federations affiliated to the European Chess Union. Chess players from Russia, whose chess federation has been suspended because of Russia’s aggression over Ukraine, were allowed to play under the neutral flag of the International Chess Federation.

Kyrill Shevchenko has recently got transferred on Romania’s list of competitors. We recall that in 2021 Shevchenko won the gold medal with the team of Ukraine, at the European Teams Chess Championship.

Kyrill Shevchenko was born on September 22nd, 2002 in Kyiv and is rated as one of wonder kids of chess. Shevchenko was awarded the international Grand master title when he was 15 years, 9 months and 23 days old, thus earning a place among the youngest Grand masters in the history of chess. Having been transferred to Romania’s list, Shevchenko has recently played in Romania’s Individual Chess Championship, becoming a national title holder. Kyrill Shevchenko became a European vice-champion and the welcoming he enjoyed when her returned to Bucharest was very special. Kyrill Shevchenko stated that he met lot of wonderful people. He worked with the national team’s head-coach, Bosnian-born Belgium Grand master Ivan Sokolov something he got thrilled with and which fueled confidence in him. Kyrill went on to say you had no choice other than having a bracing start, as in such tournaments, with almost 500 players competing, you need to be able to win 5, 6 matches in a row, so you can relax a bit afterwards and then proceed again, in a bid to win the top position. Kyril admitted to the fact that for him, the start was rather sluggish, yet in the long run he won 4 matches, which placed him on a par with the first place. Kyrill went on to say his biggest dream was to reach his full potential. Kyrill Shevchenko’s remarks have been included in a message posted by the Romanian Chess Federation on its site.

Kirill Shevchenko is 70th-placed according to the ELO rating system of the world’s best chess players. In the world’s top 100 players, Romania has two other chess players, Richard Rapport, who is 12th-placed, and 39th-placed Bogdan Deac. 2005 was the year when a Romanian last won the European title. Back then Dieter Nisipeanu was the winner of the title, at the edition held in the Polish capital Warsaw. (EN)

15 March 2023
Radio Romania International Sports club

Grand master Kyrill Shevchenko, representing Romania, walked away with silver at the European Individual Chess Championship held in Serbia’s Vrnjacka Banja, over March 2nd and the 14th. After 11 rounds played stepping on a step of the podium were Grand masters Alexey Sarana (a Russian chess-player who entered the competition under the flag of the International Chess federation, FIDE), Kyrill Shevchenko (Romania) and Daniel Dardha (Belgium). The three were awarded 8.5 points each, yet they stepped onto a different step of the podium, according to the Bucholtz score, which is calculated by adding the raw scores of each of the opponents they played and multiplying this total by the player’s raw score. Therefore, Kyrill Shevchenko’s success is all the more noteworthy, since the 23rd edition of the European Individual Chess Championship held in the resort of Vrnjacka Banja brought together over 490 chess players of 40 federations affiliated to the European Chess Union. Chess players from Russia, whose chess federation has been suspended because of Russia’s aggression over Ukraine, were allowed to play under the neutral flag of the International Chess Federation.

Kyrill Shevchenko has recently got transferred on Romania’s list of competitors. We recall that in 2021 Shevchenko won the gold medal with the team of Ukraine, at the European Teams Chess Championship.

Kyrill Shevchenko was born on September 22nd, 2002 in Kyiv and is rated as one of wonder kids of chess. Shevchenko was awarded the international Grand master title when he was 15 years, 9 months and 23 days old, thus earning a place among the youngest Grand masters in the history of chess. Having been transferred to Romania’s list, Shevchenko has recently played in Romania’s Individual Chess Championship, becoming a national title holder. Kyrill Shevchenko became a European vice-champion and the welcoming he enjoyed when her returned to Bucharest was very special. Kyrill Shevchenko stated that he met lot of wonderful people. He worked with the national team’s head-coach, Bosnian-born Belgium Grand master Ivan Sokolov something he got thrilled with and which fueled confidence in him. Kyrill went on to say you had no choice other than having a bracing start, as in such tournaments, with almost 500 players competing, you need to be able to win 5, 6 matches in a row, so you can relax a bit afterwards and then proceed again, in a bid to win the top position. Kyril admitted to the fact that for him, the start was rather sluggish, yet in the long run he won 4 matches, which placed him on a par with the first place. Kyrill went on to say his biggest dream was to reach his full potential. Kyrill Shevchenko’s remarks have been included in a message posted by the Romanian Chess Federation on its site.

Kirill Shevchenko is 70th-placed according to the ELO rating system of the world’s best chess players. In the world’s top 100 players, Romania has two other chess players, Richard Rapport, who is 12th-placed, and 39th-placed Bogdan Deac. 2005 was the year when a Romanian last won the European title. Back then Dieter Nisipeanu was the winner of the title, at the edition held in the Polish capital Warsaw. (EN)

15 March 2023
Radio Romania International Sports club

The prospects are
bracing for Romanian handball teams proving their mettle in the Champions League’s
ongoing season, in the men’s as well as in the women’s version of the competition.
In the men’s competition, Dinamo Bucharest in the past weeks has grabbed three
consecutive wins and has climbed up to the 4th place in Group A. On Thursday,
holders Dinamo can consolidate and even improve their position provided they
secure a home win in the match against 7th-placed team in the group,
PPD Zagreb,

In the women’s version
of the League, Rapid Bucharest are also 4th-placed. This past Saturday, title holders
Rapid saw their first defeat this season, being outclassed by Hungarian opponents,
Gyor, away from home, 30-32. This coming Sunday in Bucharest, Gyor play the
return leg against Rapid. At stake is securing one of the first two positions
in the group which books the ticket for the quarterfinals. The 3rd,
the 4th, the 5th and the 6th positions will send
the teams to the play-offs. The winners are then entitled to playing in the
quarterfinals.

CSM Bucharest stands
real chances to play straight in the League’s quarterfinals. Romania’s
vice-champion team is 2nd-placed in group A, on a par with the
winner of the League’s 2021-2022 edition, top-of-the table squad Vipers
Kristiansand of Norway. On Saturday, Cristina Neagu and her team mates travel
to Budapest for the return leg against Ferencvaros, a team they outclassed this
past Sunday, 30-24.

Also in women’s handball, this coming weekend
will see fixtures being played, counting towards the second leg of the EHF
European League’s third preliminary round. Three Romanian teams prove their mettle
in the competition. On Saturday, Măgura Cisnădie play a home game against
Hungary’s Siófok, in the wake of a 24-33 first-leg defeat. On Sunday, Râmnicu
Vâlcea Municipal Sport Club play a home fixture against Swedish team Höör whom
they had no problem defeating last week, 31 – 24, away from home. Also on
Sunday, the current National League leader, Gloria Buzău, play a home game
against Hungarian team Mosonmagyaróvár, in the wake of a 26-29 defeat in Hungary.
The winning teams of the third
preliminary round will play in the European League’ group stage in early 2023. (EN).

7 December 2022
Radio Romania International Sports club

The prospects are
bracing for Romanian handball teams proving their mettle in the Champions League’s
ongoing season, in the men’s as well as in the women’s version of the competition.
In the men’s competition, Dinamo Bucharest in the past weeks has grabbed three
consecutive wins and has climbed up to the 4th place in Group A. On Thursday,
holders Dinamo can consolidate and even improve their position provided they
secure a home win in the match against 7th-placed team in the group,
PPD Zagreb,

In the women’s version
of the League, Rapid Bucharest are also 4th-placed. This past Saturday, title holders
Rapid saw their first defeat this season, being outclassed by Hungarian opponents,
Gyor, away from home, 30-32. This coming Sunday in Bucharest, Gyor play the
return leg against Rapid. At stake is securing one of the first two positions
in the group which books the ticket for the quarterfinals. The 3rd,
the 4th, the 5th and the 6th positions will send
the teams to the play-offs. The winners are then entitled to playing in the
quarterfinals.

CSM Bucharest stands
real chances to play straight in the League’s quarterfinals. Romania’s
vice-champion team is 2nd-placed in group A, on a par with the
winner of the League’s 2021-2022 edition, top-of-the table squad Vipers
Kristiansand of Norway. On Saturday, Cristina Neagu and her team mates travel
to Budapest for the return leg against Ferencvaros, a team they outclassed this
past Sunday, 30-24.

Also in women’s handball, this coming weekend
will see fixtures being played, counting towards the second leg of the EHF
European League’s third preliminary round. Three Romanian teams prove their mettle
in the competition. On Saturday, Măgura Cisnădie play a home game against
Hungary’s Siófok, in the wake of a 24-33 first-leg defeat. On Sunday, Râmnicu
Vâlcea Municipal Sport Club play a home fixture against Swedish team Höör whom
they had no problem defeating last week, 31 – 24, away from home. Also on
Sunday, the current National League leader, Gloria Buzău, play a home game
against Hungarian team Mosonmagyaróvár, in the wake of a 26-29 defeat in Hungary.
The winning teams of the third
preliminary round will play in the European League’ group stage in early 2023. (EN).

7 December 2022
Sports Roundup

Romanian women’s handball team CSM Bucharest
this past Sunday grabbed a 30-24 home win against Hungarian opponents Ferencvàros.
The fixture counted towards the Champions League’s 7th round. With 7
goals scored, Cristina Neagu was her team’s top scorer. CSM Bucharest are 2nd-placed
in Group A, with 11 points, on a par with Norway Vipers Christiansand. However,
the latter team are at the top of the table in the group, with a better goal
average. CSM will next take on Ferencvaros this coming
Saturday, away from home.

In Group B on Saturday, Rapid Bucharest
sustained a away 30-32 away defeat by Győr, also from Hungary. Rapid’s French
handballer Orlane Kanor and the Romanian Sorina Grozav were the most efficient scorers, with
7 and 6 goals, respectively. After four wins and two draws, it was Rapid’s first
defeat in the competition. The Romanian team is 4th-placed in the
group, with 10 points, on a par with Denmark’s team Esbjerg, but with a poorer
goal average. With 12 points, Győr are at the top of the table. They are
followed by Metz Handball of France. On Sunday, December 11th, Rapid
play a home game against Gyor, in Bucharest.

This past weekend saw matches being played, counting
towards the first leg as part of the women’s handball EHF European League’s third
preliminary round. On Saturday, Măgura
Cisnădie sustained a 24-33 defeat by Siófok, also from Hiungary. Another Hungarian
team, Mosonmagyaróvár, grabbed a 29-26 away win
against Gloria Buzau. SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea had no problem securing a 31 – 24, away
won against Swedish team, Höör.

In news from tennis, the Romanian Filip Jianu won the ITF
tournament in Antalya, a competition with 15,000USD in prize money. In this
past Sunday’s final, Jianu defeated Montenegrin challenger Rrezart Cungu in straight
sets, 6-2, 6-4. 319th-placed according to the ATP rankings, 21-year-old
Jianu won the fifth ITF title in his career and the first one in 2022.

In news from rugby, Știința Baia Mare has yet again retained its national
title in 2022. In the National League final this past Sunday, Stiinta Baia Mare
defeated Bucharest team Steaua, 22-15, on the Triumphant Arch National rugby Stadium
in Bucharest. Also on the National rugby Stadium in Bucharest, Steaua go
against SCM Timisoara, in a Romanian Cup final this coming Sunday.

Matches counting towards the 19th round as
part of the Romanian Superleague were played this past weekend. On Friday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe grabbed a 4-1 away win against UTA
Arad, 4-1, while Petrolul from Ploiesti secured a 2-nil home win against Universitatea
Cluj. On Saturday, FC Voluntari grabbed a
3-nil home win against FC Hermannstadt of Sibiu. In Craiova’s
all-time derby, FC U defeated Universitatea, 2-nil. On Sunday, Farul Constanța trounced FC Botoșani, 8-nil, CFR Cluj defeated
Chindia Târgoviște 2-nil, while FC Argeș and Rapid Bucharest, drew 1-all. Farul are at the top of the table, with 44 points. CFR are 2nd-placed, with 40. (EN)

5 December 2022
Sports Roundup

Romanian women’s handball team CSM Bucharest
this past Sunday grabbed a 30-24 home win against Hungarian opponents Ferencvàros.
The fixture counted towards the Champions League’s 7th round. With 7
goals scored, Cristina Neagu was her team’s top scorer. CSM Bucharest are 2nd-placed
in Group A, with 11 points, on a par with Norway Vipers Christiansand. However,
the latter team are at the top of the table in the group, with a better goal
average. CSM will next take on Ferencvaros this coming
Saturday, away from home.

In Group B on Saturday, Rapid Bucharest
sustained a away 30-32 away defeat by Győr, also from Hungary. Rapid’s French
handballer Orlane Kanor and the Romanian Sorina Grozav were the most efficient scorers, with
7 and 6 goals, respectively. After four wins and two draws, it was Rapid’s first
defeat in the competition. The Romanian team is 4th-placed in the
group, with 10 points, on a par with Denmark’s team Esbjerg, but with a poorer
goal average. With 12 points, Győr are at the top of the table. They are
followed by Metz Handball of France. On Sunday, December 11th, Rapid
play a home game against Gyor, in Bucharest.

This past weekend saw matches being played, counting
towards the first leg as part of the women’s handball EHF European League’s third
preliminary round. On Saturday, Măgura
Cisnădie sustained a 24-33 defeat by Siófok, also from Hiungary. Another Hungarian
team, Mosonmagyaróvár, grabbed a 29-26 away win
against Gloria Buzau. SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea had no problem securing a 31 – 24, away
won against Swedish team, Höör.

In news from tennis, the Romanian Filip Jianu won the ITF
tournament in Antalya, a competition with 15,000USD in prize money. In this
past Sunday’s final, Jianu defeated Montenegrin challenger Rrezart Cungu in straight
sets, 6-2, 6-4. 319th-placed according to the ATP rankings, 21-year-old
Jianu won the fifth ITF title in his career and the first one in 2022.

In news from rugby, Știința Baia Mare has yet again retained its national
title in 2022. In the National League final this past Sunday, Stiinta Baia Mare
defeated Bucharest team Steaua, 22-15, on the Triumphant Arch National rugby Stadium
in Bucharest. Also on the National rugby Stadium in Bucharest, Steaua go
against SCM Timisoara, in a Romanian Cup final this coming Sunday.

Matches counting towards the 19th round as
part of the Romanian Superleague were played this past weekend. On Friday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe grabbed a 4-1 away win against UTA
Arad, 4-1, while Petrolul from Ploiesti secured a 2-nil home win against Universitatea
Cluj. On Saturday, FC Voluntari grabbed a
3-nil home win against FC Hermannstadt of Sibiu. In Craiova’s
all-time derby, FC U defeated Universitatea, 2-nil. On Sunday, Farul Constanța trounced FC Botoșani, 8-nil, CFR Cluj defeated
Chindia Târgoviște 2-nil, while FC Argeș and Rapid Bucharest, drew 1-all. Farul are at the top of the table, with 44 points. CFR are 2nd-placed, with 40. (EN)

5 December 2022
Athlete of the week

The World Rowing Championships, held in Racice, the Czech Republic, last week, made the perfect opportunity for the Romanian delegation to win four gold medals. Ionela Cozmiuc won gold in the women’s lightweight race. Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan, in the men’s double sculls, then Ancuţa Bodnar and Simona Radiş, in the women’s pair, won gold. Also gold went to Romanian women’s coxed eight crew. Having won the world title in the women’s pair, Simona Radis was a member of the coxed eight crew, and, for a second time around, won the gold medal. Radio Romania International was spoiled for choice this week, since it had no less than 13 world champions to choose from, in a bid to designate the Athlete of the week.

Simona Radiș was born on April 5, 1999 in northern Romania’s Botosani. She is currently signed up by Steaua Bucharest sports club. For three years now, Simona’s stunning performances so far have been possible only pairing up with Ancuta Bodnar in the lightweight women’s pair boat. Their first notable performance occurred in early June 2019, when Radis and Bodnar walked away with gold at the European Championships held in Lucerne, Switzerland. Then in September 2019, the two world the silver medals at the World Championships in Linz, Austria. At the subsequent major competitions, that is in Poland’s Poznan, in 2020 and in Varese, Italy, in 2021, Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radiş won gold. Also in 2021, the two won the Romanian delegation’s only Olympic title, at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, Radis and Bodnar won another European title in Munich and, fairly recently the gold medals in Racice. (EN)

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27 September 2022
Athlete of the week

The World Rowing Championships, held in Racice, the Czech Republic, last week, made the perfect opportunity for the Romanian delegation to win four gold medals. Ionela Cozmiuc won gold in the women’s lightweight race. Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan, in the men’s double sculls, then Ancuţa Bodnar and Simona Radiş, in the women’s pair, won gold. Also gold went to Romanian women’s coxed eight crew. Having won the world title in the women’s pair, Simona Radis was a member of the coxed eight crew, and, for a second time around, won the gold medal. Radio Romania International was spoiled for choice this week, since it had no less than 13 world champions to choose from, in a bid to designate the Athlete of the week.

Simona Radiș was born on April 5, 1999 in northern Romania’s Botosani. She is currently signed up by Steaua Bucharest sports club. For three years now, Simona’s stunning performances so far have been possible only pairing up with Ancuta Bodnar in the lightweight women’s pair boat. Their first notable performance occurred in early June 2019, when Radis and Bodnar walked away with gold at the European Championships held in Lucerne, Switzerland. Then in September 2019, the two world the silver medals at the World Championships in Linz, Austria. At the subsequent major competitions, that is in Poland’s Poznan, in 2020 and in Varese, Italy, in 2021, Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radiş won gold. Also in 2021, the two won the Romanian delegation’s only Olympic title, at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, Radis and Bodnar won another European title in Munich and, fairly recently the gold medals in Racice. (EN)

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27 September 2022
Athlete of the week

Headline-hitting for a week now, in the world of Romanian sports news and sports punditry, has been the name of Romanian swimmer David Popovici. The Romanian walked away with two world titles he won in the 100m and 200m freestyle events as part of the recently-held World Championships in Budapest. Davids two exceptional feats are an absolute first for Romanian sports, arguably recommending David Popovici for the Athlete of the Year title in 2022. However, were still six months to go before the yearend and, in the meantime, many things can happen in the world of sports by the end of December. So its too early for festivities…As for Radio Romania international, the best it can do was to designate David Popovici the Athlete of the Week

On Sunday, David and his colleague, Robert Glință, the worlds 5th best swimmer in the 50m backstroke event received a heros welcome at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest. Government and sports officials sought to pay their respects for the two swimmers performance in Budapest, at once emphasizing the fresh prospects that lay ahead for Romanian swimming. President Klaus Iohannis was keen on handing David the decoration himself, which is the Romanian states highest distinction The Star of Romania National order in the Rank of Knight. Davids coach, Adrian Radulescu, was also decorated. He was awarded the For Merit National Order in the Rank of Knight.

David Popovici was born in Bucharest on September 15, 2004. David distinguished himself in the juniors competition held in 2021. We recall that at the European Championships held in Rome, David won the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle events, setting a new juniors world record for the last event. Later, the Romanian broke all world juniors records in the 100m and 200m freestyle events. David Popovici succeeded to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, when he came in 4th in the 200m freestyle event. .Back then David was two hundredths of a second away from stepping onto a step of the podium. In the seniors competitions, David won his first major title in November 2021. We recall that in Kazan, Russia, David Popovici walked away with the 200m freestyle European title. Following the exceptional feat in Budapest, David will yet again have to prove his mettle in next weeks European Championships held in Otopeni. The European Seniors Championships will be held in Rome over August 11 and 17. In early December, the Juniors World Championships will be held in Perus capital city, Lima.

(EN)

28 June 2022