Gold for Romania at the European Wrestling Championship

Andreea Beatrice Ana has become the first Romanian to win the gold medal at the European Wrestling Championship.

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Mihai Pelin, 01.04.2022, 13:50

Andreea Beatrice Ana has made history in Romanian sports. Aged 21, she became the first Romanian wrestler that won a European title in the senior competition, after defeating in the final the 18 year old Ukrainian Oleksandra Homenet in the 55-kg event, at the European Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary. The Romanian ended the first half 1-0 and had a minor forehead injury, but the fate of the match was decided in the second half. Andreea initially dominated the game, leading 3-0, then her opponent recovered and took the lead 5-3. Seconds before the end of the game, Andreea won 4 points with a takedown. She became a European champion after winning the game 7-5. Her coach, Mihai Stroia was the first to congratulate her. According to the Romanian Sports and Olympic Committee, the results that Andreea Beatrice Ana got in competitions are impressive. A world and European U-23 champion, she previously won four medals in junior competitions and participated in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Born in Mangalia, in the south east, she is now representing CSA Steaua and is one of the athletes who dream of qualifying to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.

The gold meal won by Andreea Beatrice Ana is not the only notable win at the European Wrestling Championships in Budapest. Alina Vuc, aged 28, won bronze in the 50-kg category. She managed to get over the disappointment in the semifinals, entered the game very determined and focused and defeated German Lisa Ersel in less than two minutes, 4-0. This is the forth European medal for Alina and her second bronze after the one she got in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2017 and the two silver medals snatched in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Romanian athletes have won numerous medals in the European wrestling championships. Two weeks ago, at the European U23 Championships held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Romania won five medals – one gold, three silver and one bronze. These medals give a moral boost to children, juniors and even seniors, because a continental title encourages all other athletes to give their best in any competition, Razvan Pîrcălabu, head of the Romanian Wrestling Federation said. Results point to a new beginning for Romanian wrestling, he also said. (EE)