Sports weekend
The latest from aerobic gymanstics, boxing and football
Ștefan Baciu, 24.05.2019, 13:15
A 27-strong delegation of Romanian gymnasts is these days taking part in the 11th edition of the Juniors and Seniors Aerobic Gymnastic Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The pool of juniors made of 12 gymnasts and the pool of senior gymnasts made of 15 competitors left for Azerbaijan on Tuesday morning. At the previous edition of the European championships, held in Italys Ancona, in 2017, the Romanian delegation walked home with four medals won by the juniors, gold in the group event and silver in the nations competition. Back then, the Romanian delegation also won bronze in the individual mens event, and in the trio. As for the seniors who took part in the competition in 2017, the medal tally was made of three gold medals in the nations competition, trio and group, and three bronze medals in the trio, aero dance and mixed pairs events.
The Ukrainian capital Kiyv this coming weekend plays host to the mini-football preparation competition known as the Klitschko Cup tournament. Joining Romania in the competition are the teams of England, Switzerland, Ireland, Croatia and Ukraine. For Romanias National squad, it is a preparation ahead of the World Championship hosted by the Australian city of Perth in early October. In the history of mini-football, Romania has the most impressive record, with no less than 6 European titles.
More than 400 boxers, a record figure for the European Boxing Confederation, take part in the Juniors European Championships that kick-start in the eastern Romanian city of Galati. According to the Romanian Boxing Federation, Romanias delegation will be made of a great number of athletes, that is 13 boxers in the mens as well as in the womens version of the competition, thus giving a great number of young boxers the opportunity to have their first contact with a top-level competition. Starting May 24 and all through to June 1st, 408 boxers of 36 countries will compete for the European champion medals in all 13 weight classes, in the mens as well as in the womens version of the aforementioned competition.
On Sunday, May 26, matches will be played counting towards the last-but-one round, the 13th, of Group 2 in the domestic football championship. Dunarea Calarasi play Gaz Metan Medias, while Concordia Chiajna face Politehnica iasi. Concordia has already been relegated to League 2. The 13th rounds closing matches are this coming Mondays fixtures pitting FC Voluntari against FC Hermannstadt Sibiu and FC Botosani against Dinamo Bucharest. With 25 points on their record sheet, that is one point more than Hermannnstadt Sibiu, Dunarea Calarasi are 6th-placed, which is a play-off position. We recall 7th-placed Hermannstadt has already been relegated to the League 2. We recall Group 1 ended with CFR Cluj emerging at the top of the table. CFR have won the title for the 4th-time running and have already secured their participation in the Champions League, while 2nd and 3rd-placed teams, FCSB and Viitorul Constanta, respectively, will represent Romania in the Europa League.
The most eagerly-awaited event this coming weekend is the final of Romanian Cup in Football pitting Astra Giurgiu against Viitorul Constanta, in a match hosted by the southern Romanian town of Ploiesti. Astra Giurgiu are 5th placed at the end of the competition season. Viitorul Constanta are 3rd-placed and are entitled to play in Europa Leagues first preliminary round. Astra Giurgiu had won Romanias Cup in Football in 2014. However, a win for Viitorul would bring the trophy to the club for the first time in its history. The winner of Romanias Cup final also qualifies for Europa Leagues second preliminary round.
( Translated by Eugen Nasta)
