Athlete of the Week on RRI - Handballer Cristina Neagu

Romanian handball clubs performing in Champions League have had an excellent start this season. Both Rapid Bucharest, the Romanian champions, as well as vice-champions CSM Bucharest, are still undefeated in the current edition of Champions League. Apart from them, only Bietigheim of Germany in Group A and Metz of France in Group B haven't lost a match. In Group A, CSM won in Denmark against Odense 31-27. The top scorer for CSM was Cristina Neagu, with 10 goals. In Group B, Rapid Bucharest won at home against the Danish vice-champions Team Esbjerg 34-32. The top scorers for Rapid were Dorina Koros, Lorena Ostase and Sorina Grozav, each with five goals. Yet for her stellar performance in the match in Denmark, we have designated Cristina Neagu Athlete of the Week.

Cristina Neagu was born in Bucharest on August 26, 1988. She made her debut at a local school club. She was designated best junior player in the world, the first time in 2005, when Romania's under-21 team won silver at the European Championships in Austria. In 2006 Neagu was signed by Rulmentul Brașov, and from here she moved to Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea. In 2010, with Neagu in its lineup, Oltchim reached the Champions League final. After the team was disbanded, Neagu moved to Buducnost Podgorica, a club witch which she won the Champions League in 2015. Since 2017 Neagu has been playing for CSM Bucahrest. She was designated best player in the wolrd in 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018.  Cristina Neagu thus became the first handballer in history to be awarded this distinction four times. Neagu's record sheet also includes a bronze medal with Romania's team at the European Championship of 2010, and another bronze medal at the World Championship of 2015. (VP)