Athlete of the Week – Table Tennis Player Elizabeta Samara

After eight European gold medals, the veteran of Romania's table tennis team has secured her first-ever World Championship medal at age 37.

Florin Orban, 12.05.2026, 13:45

The Romanian women’s table tennis team scooped bronze at the World Championships in London late last week. Represented by Bernadette Szőcs, Elizabeta Samara, Andreea Dragoman, Adina Diaconu and Elena Zaharia, the Romanian team achieved a performance unseen in the new millennium. Our players last stood on a world podium in 2000, in Kuala Lumpur, where they also won bronze.

This time in London, Romania reached the knockout stage after finishing second in Group 1. The team lost to China, the reigning world and Olympic champions, but overcame the formidable teams of South Korea and Taiwan. Those victories against the Asian teams, both of which were quarter-finalists at the Worlds two years ago, were spectacular. After a hard-fought 3-2 win over South Korea, the Romanians defeated Taiwan 3-1.

A 3-0 sweep against the Netherlands in the round of 32 followed. In the round of 16, Romania grabbed a tough but well-deserved 3-2 win over Egypt. A 3-1 quarter-final win against France propelled Romania into the semi-finals. However, they then met China, the world’s dominant force for years. Despite their defeat, the Romanians secured the bronze medals.

Parallel to the World Championships in London, Elizabeta Samara has been elected to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Athletes’ Commission. Out of the eight elected members, Samara received the highest number of votes, 278, tying with England’s Paul Drinkhall. For her success at the World Championships and her election to the international federation’s top athletic structure, Radio Romania International has designated Elizabeta Samara Athlete of the Week.

Elizabeta Samara was born April 15, 1989, in Constanța. She achieved her first major milestone in 2005, winning team gold at the European Championships in Aarhus alongside teammates like Otilia Bădescu and Mihaela Șteff. In total, Samara has secured three European team titles for Romania. Her European track record also includes two gold medals in doubles and two in mixed doubles. In 2015, in Yekaterinburg, she was crowned European singles champion. Her career-high world ranking came in 2014, when she reached number 13; she currently sits at number 38. (VP)