Radio Romania International Sports Club

Florin Orban, 08.12.2021, 13:27

Romanian national women’s
handball team has advanced to the main group stage as part of the ongoing World
Women’s Handball Championship. Head-coach Adrian Vasile’s trainees were 2nd
placed in Group C, with two wins and one defeat on their record sheet. In this past Friday’s fixture, the Romanians trounced
the national team of Iran, 39-11. Romania succeeded another win, against minnows
Kazakhstan, 38 to 17. However, one of the world title hopefuls, the national
squad of Norway, thrashed Romania, 33-22.

It
was only during the first fifteen minutes of play that the Romanians measured
up to the standard of their opponents, so much so that they even had a brief lead
during the game. However, at halftime, Norway had already secured a 17-11
advantage. In the second half, the Norwegians had the upper hand on the court,
and that was proved by the fact that the Romanians went 11 goals down. World-acclaimed
Romanian handballer Cristina Neagu’s absence made the difference during the
Romanian team’s attacking bouts. A lot less efficient without Neagu, the
Romanian squad’s offensive lineup was unable to overpower Norway’s very strong
defensive game.

Romania
has advanced to Main Group II, with 2 points on their record sheet. On Thursday,
Romania goes against the Netherlands. On Saturday, our national squad plays Puerto
Rico, while this coming Monday, the Romanians are pitted against Sweden. Qualification
to the World Championships’ quarterfinals is secured by coming in 1st
or 2nd in the group stage. Realistically, that is something hard to
come by, since the Netherlands are the defending world champions, while Sweden
came in 4th at this year’s edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Romania has failed
to qualify to the Olympics. At the previous edition of the world championship,
in 2019, Romania came in 12th.

(Translation by Eugen Nasta)