Sports flash

The latest from women's handball, artistic gymnastics, women's volleyball and football

Florin Orban, 13.04.2023, 01:45

Romanian national womens handball team on Wednesday in Portugals Paredes secured a 28-24 win in the second leg of the playoff tie against Portugal. With 5 goals, Romanian national squads Lorena Ostase was the top scorer. Therefore, Romania succeeded a laid-back qualification to the 2023 edition of the World Championship. We recall that in the first leg Romania trounced Portugal, 35-20.

At the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Turkeys Antalya, Romanias womens national team came in 5th, a position that earned the Romanian teams qualification to the World Championships, to be hosted by the city of Antwerp in Belgium this coming fall. In Belgium, the first nine teams in descending order will secure their ticket to the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games. As part of the competition, Ana Bărbosu and Amalia Ghigoarţă have made it to all-around final, with the 9th and the 10th grade, respectively. With the second grade in the competition, Sabrina Voinea competes in the floor final, also competing in the vault final, with the fifth grade in the competition. Ana Barbosu has also qualified to the floor final, from the 7th position. With the 5th grade in the competition, Amalia Ghigoarţă has also qualified to the floor final.

In the second leg as part of the womens volleyball CEV Cup final, Romanian title holders Volei Alba Blaj this past Wednesday in Florence sustained a nil-3 defeat by Italian opponents Scandicci. In Targu Mures a week ago, the latter team had also won the first leg of the tie 3-1. For Volei Alba Blaj it was the fourth European final they have played in the last six years. CSM can boast playing in the finals as part of all European Interclub competitions, in the Champions League, in 2018, in the CEV Cup, in 2019 and in the Challenge Cup, in 2021.

This coming weekend will see matches being played, counting towards the second round of the Group1/ Group2 stage as part of the Romanian Superleague. In Group 1 on Saturday, CFR Cluj play a home game against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. On Sunday, Universitatea Craiova receive the visit of Rapid Bucharest. In Bucharest on Monday, FCSB play a home game against Farul Constanţa. Being 4 points clear of CFR Cluj, Farul continues to be the leader in the standings.

In Group 2 this coming Friday, FC U Craiova play a home game against FC Voluntari. In Arad, the local side UTA take on FC Botosani. On Saturday in Group 2, FC Hermannstadt play an away fixture against Dacia Mioveni. On Sunday, Petrolul Ploiesti play a home game against Universitatea Cluj. In Pitesti on Monday, FC Argeş play a home game against Chindia Târgovişte. According to Group 2 rankings, Petrolul Ploiesti are at the top of the table, with 27 points. They are followed by FCU Craiova, with 26. (EN)