Sports Roundup

Florin Orban, 13.07.2020, 11:47

Romanian
Ana-Maria Popescu has been designated the winner of the 2020 World Epee Cup.
The decision to award the trophies this month was taken by the International
Fencing Federation as several competitions could no longer be organized due to
the coronavirus pandemic. The Federation ruled that the winners of the 2020
competitions should be established according to the world standings for the
month of March, when all competitions were brought to a halt. Ana-Maria Popescu
was followed in the women’s epee standings by Nathalie Moellhausen of Brazil
and Sun Yiwen of China. Let us further note the Romanian won the 2008, 2009 and
2013 editions of the World Cup. Ana-Maria Popescu has thus become the fencer
with most World Cup titles in the history of the competition, outranking Laura
Flessel of France and Emese Szász-Kovács of Hungary, each having won the
competition three times.

Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep, world no. 2, has confirmed her participation in the WTA
tournament in Palermo, the first to the organized in the circuit after the
hiatus caused by the coronavirus crisis. The competition in Sicily will be
played on clay court over August 3-9. Let us further note today marks one year
since Simona Halep won her first Wimbledon title, after defeating Serena
Williams of the US 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

This weekend saw
a new round of matches in the domestic football championship. In Group 1, on
Friday, FC Botosani drew nil-all against Astra Giurgiu. On Sunday,
Universitatea Craiova won 2-1 against FCSB. On Monday, CFR Cluj is playing Gaz
Metan Medias. Craiova ranks first in the league tables, with 4 points ahead of
Cluj. In Group 2, on Saturday, Viitorul Constanta trounced Academica Clinceni
5-nil, while FC Hermannstadt won narrowly 2-1 against FC Voluntari. On Sunday,
Dinamo drew 1-all against Poli Iasi. On Monday, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe is
playing Chindia Targoviste. The last two teams, currently Dinamo and Chindia,
will be relegated to the second division. Ahead of them is Poli Iasi, which
will play a playoff match to remain in the first division, although Dinamo is
two matches down in the tables.

(Translated by
V. Palcu)