Sports weekend

The latest from men's basketball, women's table tennis and domestic football

Radio România Internațional, 23.02.2024, 12:00

The Romanian men’s basketball team’s debut fixture as part of the 2027 edition of the World Cup prequalifies translated into a defeat for the Romanians. In a Group B match in Cluj, Romania was defeated by Luxembourg, 72-76. It was the national squad’s first official match with head-coach Mihai Silvasan at the helm. Also included in group B is Norway, a team Romania will face this coming autumn, on November 21^st, away. Advancing to the prequalifies’ second round are the winners of the three groups, in the competition’s initial stage, as well the best 2^nd-placed team.

In a confrontation counting towards the quarterfinals of the World Table Tennis Teams Championship in South Korea, The Romanian women’s table tennis team on Thursday sustained a nil-3 defeat by Japam. Having secured their ticket for this coming summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, the Romanians put on a satisfactory performance in their match against Japan, in the fight for a place in the semifinals. Japan’s Mima Ito succeeded a hard-fought win against Bernadette Szőcs, 2-3. Andreea Dragoman lost to Hina Hayata, 1-3, while Elizabeta Samara sustained a nil-3 defeat by Miu Hirano.

In news from football, matches counting the domestic championship’s second league have been resumed on Thursday, when, in the 16^th round, Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ grabbed a 2-1 away fixture against Concordia Chiajna. 16^th round matches are also scheduled at the weekend, and this coming Monday. With 32 points, Şelimbăr, are at the top of the table. Corvinul Hunedoara and Unirea Slobozia follow, with 31 points.

Matches counting towards the Romania football Super league’s 27’s round are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, FC Hermannstadt play FC U Craiova, while CFR Cluj go against Dinamo Bucharest. On Saturday in Arad, in the west, the local side UTA are pitted against Petrolul Ploieşti. In Ovidiu, in the south, Farul Constanta receive the visit of Oţelul Galaţi. Also on Saturday, Poli Iasi play a home game against Rapid Bucharest. In Sfantu Gheorghe on Sunday, Universitatea Cluj face Sepsi OSK, then in Bucharest, FC Botoşani go against FCSB. On Monday, Universitatea Craiova play FC Voluntari. With 55 points, FCSB are at the top of the table. Rapid are at the top of the table, with 48 points.