RRI Sports Club
Romania, once again at the World Women's Handball Championship
Florin Orban, 16.04.2025, 13:45
Romania has always been one of the world’s handball powerhouses, both in the women’s and men’s competitions. From the 11-a-side handball competitions, sometimes called field handball, to the modern seven-a-side handball, Romanian athletes have always been among the central characters. For instance, of the 3 11-a-side women’s handball world championships that have taken place over time, Romania has won two: in 1956 and 1960.
In the modern version of the game, Romanian athletes have only won the 1962 world championship, which was organised in Romania. They lost two finals, in 1973, to then Yugoslavia, which also hosted the tournament, and in 2005, to Russia, which also won as hosts. In 2015, in Denmark, the national team won the bronze.
It is worth noting that, in the women’s category, Romania is the only country that has been represented at all editions of the World Championship, and this year is no exception.
The World Women’s Handball Championship will take place between November 26 and December 14, in cities in the Netherlands and Germany. Thirty-six teams will take part, most of which, 17, will be from Europe.
Romania is one of the teams that have already qualified into the competition. Coach Florentin Pera’s students went straight into the second stage of the qualifiers for the European places, in which they faced Italy, a team that moved up from the first stage after winning a group that also included Estonia and Finland.
The first match with the Italians took place last Wednesday, in Chieti, and Romania won conclusively, 30 to 21. The return match was held on Sunday, in Bistrita, and the Romanians won again, 31 to 18. One of the Italian side’s top scorers in the second leg was the Romanian player Bianca Ioana Bărbosu, who scored twice.
Next comes the draw for the World Championship groups. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 22, in s’Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. (AMP)
