Athlete of the Week on RRI – Handballer Crina Pintea

Crina Pintea had a stellar performance at the European Championship in France

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Florin Orban, 18.12.2018, 13:39

The European
Handball Championship has come to a close. Romania ranked 4th in the
final standings, a position that guarantees qualification to the World Cup to
be played next year in Japan. The result matched the original expectations,
considering the value of the other three teams that reached the semi-finals:
France, Russia and the Netherlands. Romania has fared better in European
Championships only once before, in 2010, when the competition was hosted by
Denmark and Norway. At the time Romania walked away with bronze.

Individual
performers have helped Romania make headway into this year’s competition. The
list includes goalkeeper Denisa Dedu, center back-court Eliza Buceschi and
pivot Crina Pintea, the latter being actually added to the dream team of this
year’s edition of the European Championship. For this reason we have designated
Crina Pintea Athlete of the Week on RRI.

Crina Pintea was
born on April 3, 1990 in Podu Turcului, Bacau County, eastern Romania. She made
her debut at the age of 20 with HC Zalau, at the time coached by Gheorghe
Tadici. In 2012 she helped her team reach the EHF Cup finals. A year later, HC
Zalau with Crina Pintea in their lineup reached the semi-finals of the same
competition. In 2015 Crina entered negotiations for a transfer to HCM Baia
Mare, for which reason Gheorghe Tadici removed her from the first lineup.
Pintea eventually transferred to Thuringer in Germany, with which she won the
Bundesliga in 2016. In 2017 Crina Pintea was signed by Issy Paris Hand of
France, today known as Paris 92. In the 2017-2018 season she was designated
best pivot in the French championship. Subsequently, Pintea transferred to
Hungary’s champions Gyor for a three-year contract.

Crina
Pintea made her debut with Romania’s national team in 2012. Three years later
she contributed to the bronze medal won at the World Championship in Denmark.