Tag: weightlifting

  • The year 2024 in sports(I)

    The year 2024 in sports(I)

    2024 was an auspicious year for Romanian sports. Romanian athletes’ performance at the Paris Olympics maintained Romania among the world’s elite nations, especially in rowing, a sports discipline where Romanian athletes put on a stellar performance.

    The year’s first notable event was the Australian Open, held in Melbourne in January. No Romanian competitor represented Romania in the men’s singles, while in the women’s version of the tournament, no Romanian tennis player could go past the first round.

    In the men’s doubles, Victor Cornea, jointly with India’s Nsriram Balaji, reached as far as the second round. In the women’s doubles and pairing up with Slovak-born Spanish tennis player Rebeka Masarova, Ana Bogdan stopped also in the second round. Also in January, in high diving, the Romanian Constantin Popovici became the new Red Bull Cliff Diving champion.

    In February, 2024, Romanian wrestlers and weightlifters walked away with medals at the European wrestling championships in Bucharest and the weightlifting championships in Sofia. In wrestling, gold went to Andreea Ana in the 55-kilogram category. Silver went to Kateryna Zelenykh in the 65-kilogram category and to Alexandra Anghel in the 73-kilogram category. Bronze went to Denis Florin Mihai, in the 55-kilogram category and to Răzvan Arnăut in the 60-kilogram category, both in the Greek-Roman style. In weightlifting, Mihaela Cambei in the 49-kilogram category won gold in the snatch, clean-and-jerk styles and combined.

    In the 71-kilogram category, Loredana Toma won gold in the snatch event and combined. In the clean-and-jerk event Valentin Ionadi Iancu won silver in the 61-kilogram category. Also in the clean-and-jerk event Ioana Mădălina Miron and Andreea Cotruţa won bronze, in the 45-and 59-kilogram category, respectively.

    In March, the Kenyan-born Romanian athlete Joan Chelimo Melly won the half-marathon race in Paris. Joan set a new national record. Romanian athletes also compelled recognition in the European throws Cup, held in Portugal’s Leiria. Alin Firfirica won gold in discus throw, then Bianca Ghelber, in the hammer throw event and Alexandru Novac in the javelin throw event won silver. Also in the javelin throw event, this time as part of the U-23 contest, Vlad Alexandru Turcu walked away with bronze. In rugby, the Romania national team came in 4th as part of the 2024 edition of Rugby Europe championship, the second-tier competition after the Six Nations Tournament.

    In April, Corona Braşov won the Erste Liga ice hockey regional competition. In the final, Corona defeated Hungarian opponents Ferencváros in four consecutive matches, two in Brasov and two in Budapest. Then in Bucharest, Hungarian tennis player Márton Fucsovics was the men’s single event as part of the ATP 250 Ţiriac Open, an event with 579 thousand euro in prize money all told. In the final, Fucsovics defeated Argentinean challenger Mariano Navone, cu 6-4, 7-5.

    The European Rowing Championships in Szeged followed, with the Romanian delegation winning no less than eight medals, four gold, two silver and two bronze. Stepping onto the highest step of the podium were women’s lightweight coxed eight and the women’s pair crews as well as men’s double sculls crew. At the European Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Lăcrămioara Perijoc won silver in the 54-kilogram category, while Claudia Nechita wo bronze in the 57-kilogram category.

    At the European women’s gymnastics championship held in Italy’s Rimini in May, the Romanian delegation won two medals. Both silver medals were won by Sabrina Maneca Voinea in the beam and floor finals. In the nations; competition, Romania came in 4th. In women’s handball, CSM Bucharest wasted the opportunity to qualify for the Champions league’s final tournament. In the quarterfinals, holders CSM was defeated in both legs of the tie against French challengers Metz Handball, at home, 24-27, and away, 23-29.

    The summer’s first major event was the European football championship in Germany. The national squad met the set target, that of reaching the knockout phase and even won Group E, which included Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine. The Romanians managed to put on a good performance in all their fixtures and they kind of struck it lucky in the match against Ukraine, which they won, 2-nil. They then they lost to Belgium, a far better team, nil-2 and drew level, 1-all, in the game against Slovakia, one of the tournament’s pleasant surprises,

    For Romania, the team spirit prevailed in each of the fixtures they played at EURO 2024. They fought all throughout the tournament, they put in a lot of effort and determination they could not make up for the difference in status which separates the Romanians from Europe’s great teams. They were unable to go past the round of 16, having lost, in Munich, the game against the Low Countries team, nil-3. However, the Romanians benefitted from the tremendous boost offered by the fans, who were in the stands all the time and frantically supported the team.

  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup

     

    Romania concluded the European Junior and U23 Championships in weightlifting held in Raszyn, Poland, with 11 medals, of which 4 gold, one silver and 6 bronze. Romania’s top performer was Tiberiu Ionuţ Donose, who brought home 3 gold medals. He won the U23 competition in both snatch and the clear and jerk category, and therefore also finished top of the overall standings.

     

    The Romanian athletes competing in the 2024 World Wrestling Championships which came to an end in Tirana, Albania, and in which 2024 Olympic contestants did not take part, came home with 2 medals. Kateryna Zelenykh won the silver in the 65 kg class, while Denis Florin Mihai won the bronze in the 55 kg Greco-Roman class.

     

    At the IBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Budva, Montenegro, Romania won 2 bronze medals. Ramona Mihaela Manea reached the semis of the 50 kg category, where she was defeated by Carla Peake (Ireland), while Amalia Ţugui lost the semifinal of the 66 kg class to Uldana Taubai, of Kazakhstan.

     

    The Romanian tennis player Anca Todoni won the WTA 125 tournament in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, after defeating Emiliana Arango (Columbia) 7-6, 6-0 on Sunday. The Romanian player won USD 15,000 and 125 WTA points, which took her 21 places up in the world standings, to no. 117. This is Anca’s second WTA 125 title, after the one in Bari this June.

     

    This weekend also saw matches counting towards the 15th round of the Romanian football SuperLeague. On Friday, CFR Cluj won 1-0 against Gloria Buzău. On Saturday in Sfântu Gheorghe, Sepsi OSK drew, 1-1, against Petrolul Ploieşti. Then in Bucharest Dinamo beat UTA, 1-0. On Sunday, Poli Iaşi defeated Oţelul Galaţi 2-1, Universitatea Cluj and Farul Constanţa drew 1-1, and the same score was reported for the match pitting Universitatea Craiova against FCSB. Top of the current ranking are “U” Cluj, with 30 points, followed by Dinamo, with 24. (AMP)

  • Radio Romania International Sports Club

    Radio Romania International Sports Club

    At least two Romanian women weightlifters have secured their participation in the Olympic Games in Paris this coming summer. According to the Romanian Weightlifting Federation, Mihaela Cambei and Loredana Toma have already booked their place for the Olympics, considering the positions they have, according to the rankings of the categories they compete in. As of late, both Toma and Cambei have participated in the pre-Olympic tournament in Thailand’s Phuket. The event is mandatory for the Olympic qualifiers.

     

    Mihaela Cambei walked away with two silver medals and a bronze medal in the 55-kilogram category. A many-time European champion, Mihaela won the silver medal with a combined deadlift of 201 kilograms. Cambei was second only to North-Korea’s Hyon Gyong Kang, who succeeded a combined deadlift of 234 kg. In the snatch style, Mihaela Cambei came in second, with 91 kilograms. In the clean-and-jerk style, Mihaela Cambei came in third, with 110 kilograms.

     

    In the 71-kilogram category, Loredana Toma was unassumingly 12th-placed, with a combined deadlift of 235 kilograms. Loredana had medical problems in Thailand so she was not at her best during the competition. However, Loredana Toma has maintained her position among the 71-kilogram category’s top weightlifters, given her combined deadlift result of 256 kilograms in Bogota, Colombia, in 2022. We recall that back then Loredana walked home with two gold medals, setting a new world record in the snatch style.

     

    For the first time ever in their career, Loredana Toma and Mihaela Cambei will take part in an Olympic competition, the one in Paris. We recall that in 2021 Loredana Toma should have competed in the Tokyo Olympics. However, ahead of the Tokyo-hosted Olympic Games, the International Weightlifting Federation ruled a one-year ban for the Romanian Weightlifting Federation because of violation of the anti-doping rule on a number of occasions.

     

    We recall that back then Loredana Toma was the favourite to winning a gold medal in the 69-kilogram category. 29-year-old Loredana Toma is an experienced weightlifter, while Mihaela Cambei is a representative of the younger generation. She will be 22 in November 2024. Her record includes two European titles already. We recall Cambei walked away with gold in Yerevan, in 2023, and in Sofia, in 2024, in the snatch and clean-and-jerk style, as well as combined

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


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


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


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


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


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

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Romania has yet
    again earned a top position among Europe’s weightlifting elite. In 2022 the
    Romanian athletes were unable to participate in the European Championships held
    in Albanian capital Tirana. We recall the Romanian Weightlifting Federation was
    banned from participating in international competitions because of reported violation
    of anti-doping rules on a number of occasions. In
    2023, the Romanian delegation returned from Yerevan with 14 medals. Nine of the
    medals were gold, being won by Mihaela Cambei, in the 49-kilogram
    category, Andreea Cotruţa, in the 55-kilogram category and Loredana Toma, in
    the 71-kilogram category. Each of
    the athletes won three medals, in the snatch style, in the clean-and-jerk style,
    and combined. Also in the women’s version of the championships, in the 45-kilogram
    category, Cosmina Pană walked away with silvering the snatch style, and
    combined. In the men’s version of the competition, in the 55-kilogram category,
    Valentin Iancu won silver in the clean and jerk style and bronze in the snatch
    style and combined. Cambei and Cotruţa won their medal in the first days of the
    competition, on April 15 and 16. Since Loredana Toma stepped onto a step of the
    podium in Wednesday, Radio Romania International designated her the Athlete of
    the week.


    In Yerevan, Toma dominated the competition in the snatch style, winning
    gold, with a deadlift of 110 kilograms. Silver went to Italy’s Giulia Miserendino with 105 kilograms, while bronze went to Germany’s
    Lisa Marie Schweize, who succeeded a deadlift of 103 kilograms. Loredana also won gold in the clean and jerk
    style, with 130 kilograms. British competitor Sarah
    Davies won silver, with a deadlift of 126 de kilograms, while the Italian Miserendino
    walked home with bronze, with 125 kilograms. Therefore, combined, Loredana Toma
    won gold, with 240 kilograms, being followed by Miserendino, with 230 and Davies, 226 kilograms.


    Loredana Toma was
    born on May 10, 1995 in the northern Romania town of Botosani. Earlier in her career she won several gold
    medals in European juniors and youth championships. Also in European competitions,
    as a senior competitor, in 2013 in 2014, Loredana won silver in the 58-kilogram
    category. Over 2014 and 2016 she was banned from competition, having tested positive
    for stanozolol. Beginning with the European Championships in Croatia, held in
    April 2017, Loredana Toma dominated the 63-kilogram category, in the snatch but
    also in the clean and jerk style. Loredana confirmed her standing at the World
    Championships in Anaheim in December 2017, where she won three more gold medals. At
    the 2018 edition of the European Championships in Bucharest, Loredana also won
    gold. Then in 2019, Loredana won three gold medals at the European Championships
    in Batumi. At the World Championships held in Thailand, also in 2019, Loreana
    Toman won bronze medals in the 64-kilogram category, in the clean-and-jerk
    style, and combined. In 2021, also in the 64-kilogram category, Loredana won
    three gold medals at the European Championships in Moscow. Unfortunately, after
    the International Weightlifting Federation officially
    banned the Romanian Federation from taking part in competition for one year, on
    account of anti-doping rules violation on a number of occasions, Loredana was
    unable to take part in the 2021 edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, were she
    ranked as favorite in the 64-kilogram category. Loredana had a vigorous
    comeback in 2022, when she had no problem winning all three medals in the 71-kilogram
    category at the World Championships in Bogota.

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Romania has yet
    again earned a top position among Europe’s weightlifting elite. In 2022 the
    Romanian athletes were unable to participate in the European Championships held
    in Albanian capital Tirana. We recall the Romanian Weightlifting Federation was
    banned from participating in international competitions because of reported violation
    of anti-doping rules on a number of occasions. In
    2023, the Romanian delegation returned from Yerevan with 14 medals. Nine of the
    medals were gold, being won by Mihaela Cambei, in the 49-kilogram
    category, Andreea Cotruţa, in the 55-kilogram category and Loredana Toma, in
    the 71-kilogram category. Each of
    the athletes won three medals, in the snatch style, in the clean-and-jerk style,
    and combined. Also in the women’s version of the championships, in the 45-kilogram
    category, Cosmina Pană walked away with silvering the snatch style, and
    combined. In the men’s version of the competition, in the 55-kilogram category,
    Valentin Iancu won silver in the clean and jerk style and bronze in the snatch
    style and combined. Cambei and Cotruţa won their medal in the first days of the
    competition, on April 15 and 16. Since Loredana Toma stepped onto a step of the
    podium in Wednesday, Radio Romania International designated her the Athlete of
    the week.


    In Yerevan, Toma dominated the competition in the snatch style, winning
    gold, with a deadlift of 110 kilograms. Silver went to Italy’s Giulia Miserendino with 105 kilograms, while bronze went to Germany’s
    Lisa Marie Schweize, who succeeded a deadlift of 103 kilograms. Loredana also won gold in the clean and jerk
    style, with 130 kilograms. British competitor Sarah
    Davies won silver, with a deadlift of 126 de kilograms, while the Italian Miserendino
    walked home with bronze, with 125 kilograms. Therefore, combined, Loredana Toma
    won gold, with 240 kilograms, being followed by Miserendino, with 230 and Davies, 226 kilograms.


    Loredana Toma was
    born on May 10, 1995 in the northern Romania town of Botosani. Earlier in her career she won several gold
    medals in European juniors and youth championships. Also in European competitions,
    as a senior competitor, in 2013 in 2014, Loredana won silver in the 58-kilogram
    category. Over 2014 and 2016 she was banned from competition, having tested positive
    for stanozolol. Beginning with the European Championships in Croatia, held in
    April 2017, Loredana Toma dominated the 63-kilogram category, in the snatch but
    also in the clean and jerk style. Loredana confirmed her standing at the World
    Championships in Anaheim in December 2017, where she won three more gold medals. At
    the 2018 edition of the European Championships in Bucharest, Loredana also won
    gold. Then in 2019, Loredana won three gold medals at the European Championships
    in Batumi. At the World Championships held in Thailand, also in 2019, Loreana
    Toman won bronze medals in the 64-kilogram category, in the clean-and-jerk
    style, and combined. In 2021, also in the 64-kilogram category, Loredana won
    three gold medals at the European Championships in Moscow. Unfortunately, after
    the International Weightlifting Federation officially
    banned the Romanian Federation from taking part in competition for one year, on
    account of anti-doping rules violation on a number of occasions, Loredana was
    unable to take part in the 2021 edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, were she
    ranked as favorite in the 64-kilogram category. Loredana had a vigorous
    comeback in 2022, when she had no problem winning all three medals in the 71-kilogram
    category at the World Championships in Bogota.

  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup


    The European Wrestling Championships hosted by Croatian capital city Zagreb drew to close on Sunday. The Romanian delegation walked away with five medals, that is one medal more than the delegations record at the 2022 edition of the European championships held in Budapest. Andreea Ana in the 55-kilogram category, and Alexandra Anghel, in the 72-kilogram category, stepped onto the highest step of the podium. Bronze went to Cătălina Axente, in the 76-kilogram category, Kriszta Incze, in the 65-kilogram category and to Greek-Roman wrestler Denis Mihai, in the 55-kilogram category.



    In Armenias Yerevan, the Romanian delegation won 14 medals at the recently-held European weightlifting Championships that drew to a close on Sunday. Three gold medals each went to Mihaela Cambei, in the 49-kilogram category, Andreea Cotruţa, in the 55-kilogram category and Loredana Toma, in the 71-kilogram category, in the snatch, clean and jerk style and combined, while in the 45-kilogram category, Cosmina Pană walked away with silver in the snatch style and combined. In the mens version of the competition, competing in the 55-kilogram category, Valentin Iancu won silver in the clean and jerk style and bronze in the snatch style, and combined. We recall that in 2022 Romania did not participate in the European Championships held in Tirana. Back then the Romanian Weightlifting Federation was suspended following violation of anti-doping rules by some of its athletes.



    In news from womens handball, CSM Bucureşti are the new title holders. CSM were granted the title having won the away pending game against Dunarea Braila, 29 to 24. The fixture counted towards the domestic championships 23rd round. CSM Bucharest are thus 15 points clear of the 2022 champions, this years runner-up team, Rapid Bucharest. No team can thus come from behind and outperform CSM in the championships remaining rounds until the end of the season. In the Champions League later this week, CSM and Rapid play their first leg as part of the quarterfinals tie. Rapid receive the visit of the 2022 winners of the League, Norways Vipers Kristiansand, while CSM travel to Demark for a game against Team Esbjerg.



    This past weekend saw matches being played, counting towards the Group 1/Group 2 stage as part of the Romanian football Superleagues 5th round. In Group 1 on Friday, Universitatea Craiova grabbed a 2-1 away win against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. In Ovidiu on Saturday, Farul Constanţa defeated CFR Cluj, 1-nil, while on Sunday, Rapid Bucharest, grabbed a 1-nil home win against FCSB. Farul are at the top of the table, with 42 points, followed by CFR, with 38 and FCSB, with 37 points.



    In Group 2 on Saturday, FC Hermannstadt Sibiu grabbed a 2-1 home win against FC Argeş, while FC Botoşani were held to a blank draw by FC U Craiova at home. In Ploiesti on Sunday, Chindia Tirgoviste succeeded a 2-1 win against UTA Arad.




  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup


    The European Wrestling Championships hosted by Croatian capital city Zagreb drew to close on Sunday. The Romanian delegation walked away with five medals, that is one medal more than the delegations record at the 2022 edition of the European championships held in Budapest. Andreea Ana in the 55-kilogram category, and Alexandra Anghel, in the 72-kilogram category, stepped onto the highest step of the podium. Bronze went to Cătălina Axente, in the 76-kilogram category, Kriszta Incze, in the 65-kilogram category and to Greek-Roman wrestler Denis Mihai, in the 55-kilogram category.



    In Armenias Yerevan, the Romanian delegation won 14 medals at the recently-held European weightlifting Championships that drew to a close on Sunday. Three gold medals each went to Mihaela Cambei, in the 49-kilogram category, Andreea Cotruţa, in the 55-kilogram category and Loredana Toma, in the 71-kilogram category, in the snatch, clean and jerk style and combined, while in the 45-kilogram category, Cosmina Pană walked away with silver in the snatch style and combined. In the mens version of the competition, competing in the 55-kilogram category, Valentin Iancu won silver in the clean and jerk style and bronze in the snatch style, and combined. We recall that in 2022 Romania did not participate in the European Championships held in Tirana. Back then the Romanian Weightlifting Federation was suspended following violation of anti-doping rules by some of its athletes.



    In news from womens handball, CSM Bucureşti are the new title holders. CSM were granted the title having won the away pending game against Dunarea Braila, 29 to 24. The fixture counted towards the domestic championships 23rd round. CSM Bucharest are thus 15 points clear of the 2022 champions, this years runner-up team, Rapid Bucharest. No team can thus come from behind and outperform CSM in the championships remaining rounds until the end of the season. In the Champions League later this week, CSM and Rapid play their first leg as part of the quarterfinals tie. Rapid receive the visit of the 2022 winners of the League, Norways Vipers Kristiansand, while CSM travel to Demark for a game against Team Esbjerg.



    This past weekend saw matches being played, counting towards the Group 1/Group 2 stage as part of the Romanian football Superleagues 5th round. In Group 1 on Friday, Universitatea Craiova grabbed a 2-1 away win against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. In Ovidiu on Saturday, Farul Constanţa defeated CFR Cluj, 1-nil, while on Sunday, Rapid Bucharest, grabbed a 1-nil home win against FCSB. Farul are at the top of the table, with 42 points, followed by CFR, with 38 and FCSB, with 37 points.



    In Group 2 on Saturday, FC Hermannstadt Sibiu grabbed a 2-1 home win against FC Argeş, while FC Botoşani were held to a blank draw by FC U Craiova at home. In Ploiesti on Sunday, Chindia Tirgoviste succeeded a 2-1 win against UTA Arad.




  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    We begin with news
    from wrestling. As part of the European Wrestling Championships, underway in
    Zagreb, Andrea Ana on Thursday won gold in the 55-kilogram category. In the final,
    Andreea Ana outclassed Hungary’s Erika Bognar, Also on
    Thursday Catalina Axente walked away with bronze, in the 76-kilogram category.
    In the decisive confrontation, Axente defeated Ukrainian challenger Anastasia
    Osniaci. The competition draws to a close on Sunday. We recall that at the 2022
    edition of the championships, held in Budapest, Romania won four medals. The
    Romanian delegation’s scintillating feat was the gold medal also provided by this
    year’s star competitor, Andreea Ana.
    Alina Vuc and Kriszta Incze won bronze, in the 50 and the 65-kilogram category,
    respectively. In the men’s version of the competition, Nicu Ojog won silver in
    the Greek-Roman style, in the 87-kilogram category.


    The coming weekend will see the European
    Weightlifting Championships drawing to a close in Yerevan. No Romanian athlete has
    remained in the competition, right now. In Yerevan, the Romanian delegation won
    14 medals. In the 49-kilogram category, Mihaela Cambei, then Andreea Cotruta in
    the 55-kilogram category and Loredan Toman in the 7-kilogram category won three
    gold medals each, in the snatch style, the clean and jerk style, and combined.
    Also in the women’s version of the competition, in the 45-kilogram category, Cosmina
    Pană walked home with silver in the snatch style and combined, while in the men’s
    version of the competition, in the 55-kilogram category Valentin Iancu won
    silver in the clean-and-jerk style, and combined.


    In the Romanian football Super League, fixtures
    are scheduled at the weekend, counting towards the fifth round as part of Group
    1/Group 2 stage. On Friday, Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe play Universitatea Craiova. On Saturday in Ovidiu, the top-of-the-table and the runner-up teams, Farul
    Constanta and CFR Cluj, are pitted against each other. On Sunday, Rapid Bucharest
    play a home game against FCSB.
    Farul are at the top of the table, with 39 points, CFR are 2nd
    placed, with 38, then coming in descending order are Craiova, with 32, Rapid,
    with 28 and Sepsi with 24 points. In Group 2, on Saturday FC Hermannstadt Sibiu play a home game against FC Argeş, while FC
    Botoşani play another home game against FC U Craiova. In Ploiesti on Sunday, Chindia
    Târgovişte take on UTA Arad. On Monday,
    Universitatea Cluj go against CS Mioveni, while FC Voluntari are pitted against
    Petrolul Ploieşti. According to the Superleague’s lower-

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    We begin with news
    from wrestling. As part of the European Wrestling Championships, underway in
    Zagreb, Andrea Ana on Thursday won gold in the 55-kilogram category. In the final,
    Andreea Ana outclassed Hungary’s Erika Bognar, Also on
    Thursday Catalina Axente walked away with bronze, in the 76-kilogram category.
    In the decisive confrontation, Axente defeated Ukrainian challenger Anastasia
    Osniaci. The competition draws to a close on Sunday. We recall that at the 2022
    edition of the championships, held in Budapest, Romania won four medals. The
    Romanian delegation’s scintillating feat was the gold medal also provided by this
    year’s star competitor, Andreea Ana.
    Alina Vuc and Kriszta Incze won bronze, in the 50 and the 65-kilogram category,
    respectively. In the men’s version of the competition, Nicu Ojog won silver in
    the Greek-Roman style, in the 87-kilogram category.


    The coming weekend will see the European
    Weightlifting Championships drawing to a close in Yerevan. No Romanian athlete has
    remained in the competition, right now. In Yerevan, the Romanian delegation won
    14 medals. In the 49-kilogram category, Mihaela Cambei, then Andreea Cotruta in
    the 55-kilogram category and Loredan Toman in the 7-kilogram category won three
    gold medals each, in the snatch style, the clean and jerk style, and combined.
    Also in the women’s version of the competition, in the 45-kilogram category, Cosmina
    Pană walked home with silver in the snatch style and combined, while in the men’s
    version of the competition, in the 55-kilogram category Valentin Iancu won
    silver in the clean-and-jerk style, and combined.


    In the Romanian football Super League, fixtures
    are scheduled at the weekend, counting towards the fifth round as part of Group
    1/Group 2 stage. On Friday, Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe play Universitatea Craiova. On Saturday in Ovidiu, the top-of-the-table and the runner-up teams, Farul
    Constanta and CFR Cluj, are pitted against each other. On Sunday, Rapid Bucharest
    play a home game against FCSB.
    Farul are at the top of the table, with 39 points, CFR are 2nd
    placed, with 38, then coming in descending order are Craiova, with 32, Rapid,
    with 28 and Sepsi with 24 points. In Group 2, on Saturday FC Hermannstadt Sibiu play a home game against FC Argeş, while FC
    Botoşani play another home game against FC U Craiova. In Ploiesti on Sunday, Chindia
    Târgovişte take on UTA Arad. On Monday,
    Universitatea Cluj go against CS Mioveni, while FC Voluntari are pitted against
    Petrolul Ploieşti. According to the Superleague’s lower-

  • April 17, 2023

    April 17, 2023

    Easter – The majority Orthodox Christians and the Greek Catholics in Romania are today celebrating the second Easter day, which marks the beginning of the Bright Week. The celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the biggest celebration of the Christian world, is the only one to which three days are dedicated. This week everything is under the sign of light, the symbol of Christs Resurrection. The usual greeting has been replaced since Sunday with a greeting-confession “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” which expresses faith in the Resurrection.



    Budget – The Romanian government will analyze during this weeks meeting the ministries’ proposals to reduce expenses from the state budget. Cuts in goods and services, trips and purchases are expected. The measures were requested by the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, as the budget deficit in the first months of the year is higher than anticipated. The PM emphasized, however, that there will be no reductions in salaries and investments. In his turn, President Klaus Iohannis has given assurances that there is no hole in the budget and that salaries will not be cut.



    Refugees – More than four million Ukrainians have entered Romania since the beginning of the war, according to data from the General Border Police Inspectorate. The vast majority of Ukrainian citizens left Romania for other destinations. Around 4,400 Ukrainians applied for asylum in Romania. They benefit from all the rights provided by the national legislation.



    Weightlifting — The Romanian athlete Andreea Cotruţa won three gold medals in the 55 kg category on Sunday at the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan. Cotruţa won gold in the snatch event with 91 kg, also won the gold in the clean and jerk with 110 kg, and in the overall she won gold with 201 kg. Romania thus won 11 medals after two days of competition, six gold, of which three obtained by Mihaela Cambei (49 kg category) and three by Andreea Cotruţa (55 kg category), three silver and two bronze. Romanias target is to win four medals and six rankings on places 4-6.



    Ukraine – Kyiv will seek to obtain the reopening of transit for its food products and grains via Poland during the discussions taking place today in Warsaw, the Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mikola Solski announced after Poland and Hungary announced bans on some imports from Ukraine, Reuters reports. The Polish farmers have denounced the fact that a large part of Ukrainian grain and other products is not distributed to the rest of the European Union, but remains in the country, causing a reduction in grain prices. The president of Polands ruling Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, announced on Saturday, at a government meeting, that he had made the decision to stop imports of Ukrainian products to avoid a crisis on the domestic agricultural market. Minister Solski said that the transit of food products through Hungary and Slovakia was not affected. He also stated that he would have additional discussions in Romania on Wednesday and in Slovakia on Thursday.



    Rescue — The Romanian border policemen participating, on the Coast Guard ships, in a mission within the Joint Maritime Operation THEMIS 2023 under the auspices of the Frontex Agency, have rescued, together with their colleagues from the Coast Guard in Italy, in several missions carried out in the Mediterranean Sea, 181 foreign citizens in danger. On March 23, the Romanian border police took 150 migrants, all men, on board the Coast Guards maritime patrol boat, from a ship belonging to their colleagues from the Italian Coast Guard. The men were given medical assistance and were later taken over by the authorities of the Italian Republic. On April 8, the Romanian border policemen rescued 31 people in danger, including minors, and provided them with medical assistance. (LS)

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Two members of the Romanian delegation competing in the World
    Weightlifting Championships, underway in Bogota, Colombia, on Monday walked away with two
    more medals for the Romania delegation. Loredana Toma won gold in the combined
    total and in the snatch style, in the 71-kilogram category. In the snatch style, Loredana Toma performed a deadlift of 119 kilograms, setting the category’s new
    world record. For her noteworthy feat, Radio Romania
    International designated Loredana Toma the Athlete of the week.


    Loredana’s set target for the competition in Bogota
    was the winning of a gold medal. A many-time awardee in World and European championships,
    Loredana Toma was designated the Best Athlete of the year in 2021 by the European
    Weightlifting Federation. Loredana counted as the favorite athlete in the
    71-kilogram category, a recently-introduced category in Olympic competitions,
    between the 64 and the 76-kilogram category. Notwithstanding, expectations were
    not so high regarding her performance in the snatch style. In the clean-and-jerk style, Loredana Toma came in 4th, with a deadlift of 137
    kilograms. In the combined total, Loredana Toma came in 1st,
    with 256 kilograms. With 253 kilograms, China’s Tiantian Zeng came in 2nd,
    while Angie Palacios of Ecuador came in 3rd, with 252 kilograms. All
    told, the Romanian delegation’s medal tally in Bogota in made of three medals, namely,
    the two medals won by Loredana Toma and the silver medal won by Mihaela Cambei in the snatch style, in the 49-kilogram
    category.


    Loredana
    Toma was born on May 10, 1995, in the northern Romanian town of Botosani. In
    the early days of her career, Loredana won several gold medals in Juniors and
    Youth European competitions. In seniors’ competitions, in 2013 and 2014, Loredana
    Toma won silver in the 58-kilogram category. Between 2014 and 2016, Loredana
    was banned from competition, having tested positive for stanozolol. Beginning with
    the European championships in Croatia as of April 2017, Loredana Toma has
    dominated the 63-kilogream category, in the snatch as well as in the clean-and-jerk
    style. She confirmed her standing in the World Championships in Anaheim, the
    USA, in December 2017, winning three more gold medals. In the European Championships
    held in Bucharest in 2018, Loredana Toma yet again won all medals up for grabs. In
    2019, at the European Championships in Batumi, Loredana Toma won three gold
    medals. In the 64-kilogram category Loredana Toma won two bronze medals, in the
    clean-and-jerk style and in the combined total, as part of the World Championships
    in Thailand in 2019. Also in the 64-kilogram category, at the European
    Championships in Moscow, in 2021, Loredana won three gold medals. The International
    Weightlifting Federation imposed a one-year ban on the Romanian Federation, on account
    of Romanian athletes’ violating the anti-doping regulations on a number of
    occasions. Therefore, Loredana Toma could not participate in the 2021 edition
    of the Tokyo Olympics, where she was a top-seed athlete in the 64-kilogram category.(EN)


  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Two members of the Romanian delegation competing in the World
    Weightlifting Championships, underway in Bogota, Colombia, on Monday walked away with two
    more medals for the Romania delegation. Loredana Toma won gold in the combined
    total and in the snatch style, in the 71-kilogram category. In the snatch style, Loredana Toma performed a deadlift of 119 kilograms, setting the category’s new
    world record. For her noteworthy feat, Radio Romania
    International designated Loredana Toma the Athlete of the week.


    Loredana’s set target for the competition in Bogota
    was the winning of a gold medal. A many-time awardee in World and European championships,
    Loredana Toma was designated the Best Athlete of the year in 2021 by the European
    Weightlifting Federation. Loredana counted as the favorite athlete in the
    71-kilogram category, a recently-introduced category in Olympic competitions,
    between the 64 and the 76-kilogram category. Notwithstanding, expectations were
    not so high regarding her performance in the snatch style. In the clean-and-jerk style, Loredana Toma came in 4th, with a deadlift of 137
    kilograms. In the combined total, Loredana Toma came in 1st,
    with 256 kilograms. With 253 kilograms, China’s Tiantian Zeng came in 2nd,
    while Angie Palacios of Ecuador came in 3rd, with 252 kilograms. All
    told, the Romanian delegation’s medal tally in Bogota in made of three medals, namely,
    the two medals won by Loredana Toma and the silver medal won by Mihaela Cambei in the snatch style, in the 49-kilogram
    category.


    Loredana
    Toma was born on May 10, 1995, in the northern Romanian town of Botosani. In
    the early days of her career, Loredana won several gold medals in Juniors and
    Youth European competitions. In seniors’ competitions, in 2013 and 2014, Loredana
    Toma won silver in the 58-kilogram category. Between 2014 and 2016, Loredana
    was banned from competition, having tested positive for stanozolol. Beginning with
    the European championships in Croatia as of April 2017, Loredana Toma has
    dominated the 63-kilogream category, in the snatch as well as in the clean-and-jerk
    style. She confirmed her standing in the World Championships in Anaheim, the
    USA, in December 2017, winning three more gold medals. In the European Championships
    held in Bucharest in 2018, Loredana Toma yet again won all medals up for grabs. In
    2019, at the European Championships in Batumi, Loredana Toma won three gold
    medals. In the 64-kilogram category Loredana Toma won two bronze medals, in the
    clean-and-jerk style and in the combined total, as part of the World Championships
    in Thailand in 2019. Also in the 64-kilogram category, at the European
    Championships in Moscow, in 2021, Loredana won three gold medals. The International
    Weightlifting Federation imposed a one-year ban on the Romanian Federation, on account
    of Romanian athletes’ violating the anti-doping regulations on a number of
    occasions. Therefore, Loredana Toma could not participate in the 2021 edition
    of the Tokyo Olympics, where she was a top-seed athlete in the 64-kilogram category.(EN)


  • Sport Flash

    Sport Flash

    At the World Weightlifting Championships hosted by Bogota, Colombia, the Romanian athlete Mihaela-Valentina Cambei won the silver medal in the snatch event, in the 49 kilogram category. She lifted 90 kilograms, setting a new European record. In the clean and jerk, Cambei had only one successful attempt, in the 104 kilograms category, finishing on 8th place. Overall, the Romanian athlete ranked fourth. Six athletes from Romania are participating in the World Championships in Bogota: four girls and two boys.



    Lets now pass on to basketball. U-BT Cluj-Napoca obtained a prestigious victory against the Spanish team Joventut Badalona, ​​score 98-82, on Wednesday, at home, in EuroCup, Group A. The Romanian champions, who climbed to 6th position in the group, will play, in a week’s time, against the Ukrainian team Prometei Slobojanske, a team ranking on the 7th place. The game is scheduled in Riga, Latvia.



    Also in the EuroCup, but in the womens category, Basketball Arad obtained its first victory of this season: 87 to 50 against the Polish team Bydgoszcz, on Wednesday, at home. However, this success is rather belated, coming after four consecutive defeats that removed the Romanian vice-champions from the race to the next phase. In Group D, Basketball Arad is ranked on the last place, 4th. The team from Transylvania will play its last game in the group next Wednesday, against Arka Gdynia, in Poland.



    Now we pass on to football. In the Romanian Football Cup, this week, the last games of the group stage are played. On Tuesday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, the trophy holder and FC U Craiova, from group A, qualified for the quarter-finals. Sepsi defeated FC Voluntari 4-0, and Craiova defeated Petrolul Ploieşti, away from home, score 1 -0. In the third game of the group, in Buzău, Unirea Slobozia and Dinamo Bucharest ended in a tie, 3 all. On Wednesday, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Cluj from Group C obtained qualification. CFR Cluj ended in a tie, 0 all with Farul Constanţa in Ovidiu. The game in Cluj, between Universitatea and Rapid Bucharest, ended with the same result. Also in Group C, Dumbrăviţa defeated Alexandria away from home, score 4-0. FC Argeş and Hermannstadt have advanced from Group D. FC Argeş defeated Universitatea Craiova 2-1 at home, and Hermannstadt defeated Chindia Târgovişte, in Mediaş, 4-1. In the other game in the group, Minaur Baia Mare defeated Ocna Mureş 6-0, away from home. Thursday sees games in Group B: Botoşani with FCSB, Mioveni with UTA Arad and Oţelul Galati with Gloria Buzău. (LS)

  • Sport Flash

    Sport Flash

    At the World Weightlifting Championships hosted by Bogota, Colombia, the Romanian athlete Mihaela-Valentina Cambei won the silver medal in the snatch event, in the 49 kilogram category. She lifted 90 kilograms, setting a new European record. In the clean and jerk, Cambei had only one successful attempt, in the 104 kilograms category, finishing on 8th place. Overall, the Romanian athlete ranked fourth. Six athletes from Romania are participating in the World Championships in Bogota: four girls and two boys.



    Lets now pass on to basketball. U-BT Cluj-Napoca obtained a prestigious victory against the Spanish team Joventut Badalona, ​​score 98-82, on Wednesday, at home, in EuroCup, Group A. The Romanian champions, who climbed to 6th position in the group, will play, in a week’s time, against the Ukrainian team Prometei Slobojanske, a team ranking on the 7th place. The game is scheduled in Riga, Latvia.



    Also in the EuroCup, but in the womens category, Basketball Arad obtained its first victory of this season: 87 to 50 against the Polish team Bydgoszcz, on Wednesday, at home. However, this success is rather belated, coming after four consecutive defeats that removed the Romanian vice-champions from the race to the next phase. In Group D, Basketball Arad is ranked on the last place, 4th. The team from Transylvania will play its last game in the group next Wednesday, against Arka Gdynia, in Poland.



    Now we pass on to football. In the Romanian Football Cup, this week, the last games of the group stage are played. On Tuesday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, the trophy holder and FC U Craiova, from group A, qualified for the quarter-finals. Sepsi defeated FC Voluntari 4-0, and Craiova defeated Petrolul Ploieşti, away from home, score 1 -0. In the third game of the group, in Buzău, Unirea Slobozia and Dinamo Bucharest ended in a tie, 3 all. On Wednesday, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Cluj from Group C obtained qualification. CFR Cluj ended in a tie, 0 all with Farul Constanţa in Ovidiu. The game in Cluj, between Universitatea and Rapid Bucharest, ended with the same result. Also in Group C, Dumbrăviţa defeated Alexandria away from home, score 4-0. FC Argeş and Hermannstadt have advanced from Group D. FC Argeş defeated Universitatea Craiova 2-1 at home, and Hermannstadt defeated Chindia Târgovişte, in Mediaş, 4-1. In the other game in the group, Minaur Baia Mare defeated Ocna Mureş 6-0, away from home. Thursday sees games in Group B: Botoşani with FCSB, Mioveni with UTA Arad and Oţelul Galati with Gloria Buzău. (LS)