Athlete of the Week on RRI – Handballer Cristina Neagu

Neagu had a solid performance in the latest Champions League fixture for CSM

Florin Orban, 11.10.2022, 13:45

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)