Sports Roundup
Romanian athletes had good performances in the competitions they attended last weekend
Florin Orban, 20.07.2026, 13:45
Romania’s rugby team dramatically defeated Samoa, 38-37 on Saturday in Montevideo, in the Nations Cup. The Oaks won after a successful try by Alexandru Savin in the very last seconds of the game, converted by Gabi Rupanu. Samoa started better and secured a 10-0 lead, but Romania managed to turn the score around to 14-10. At halftime, Samoa took the lead once again, 17-14, and in the second half they broke away to 31-14. Romania made a comeback and closed in on 31-26, but Samoa held on to a 37-31 lead until the final seconds. Romania scored a total of six tries, four of which were converted. In the first games of the Nations Cup, Romania lost two weeks ago to Chile 48-31, in Santiago de Chile, and drew with Uruguay, 36-36, in Montevideo.
The Golden Belt boxing tournament, an international competition now in its 52nd year, concluded in Brăila (eastern Romania). Romania finished the competition with 5 gold medals, 7 silver and 13 bronze. Nicoleta Elena Radu, in 48 kilos, and Amalia Niţă in 75, climbed to the highest step of the podium in the women’s competitions. In the men’s events, the Romanian champions are Daniel Grigorie in 70 kilos, the Cuban-born athlete Jorge Mayeta Juarez in 85, and Andrei Arădoaie in 90.
Romania concluded the Sarajevo European Open in judo with 5 medals. Florentina Ivănescu won the gold in the 63 kilos. Silver medals were brought home by the Cuban-born athletes Amanda Zuaznabar-Torres in 63 kilos and Maidelines Gorguet-Veranes in 78 kilos. Thalia Castellano Narino, also originally from Cuba, and Laura Bogdan won bronze medals in 78+ kilos and 48 kilos, respectively.
The Romanian Football Super League championship began this past weekend. On Friday, FC Voluntari drew 2-2 at home with FC Botoşani, while FCSB beat FC Argeş 2-0 in Bucharest. On Saturday, Oţelul defeated CFR Cluj 2-1 in Galaţi, and Universitatea Craiova won against 4-0 against UTA Arad on home turf. On Sunday, Universitatea Cluj defeated Farul Constanţa 2-1 at home and Petrolul beat Dinamo Bucharest 1-0 in Ploieşti. The last games of the round, Corvinul Hunedoara vs Csikszereda and Rapid Bucharest vs Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, are scheduled on Monday. (AMP)
