Athlete of the Week – Handballer Crina Pintea

Crina Pintea had a solid contribution in the match against Perla Lublin

Florin Orban, 22.10.2019, 13:45

The most
important women’s handball team of recent years, CSM Bucharest, seems to have
returned to the form that earned its past glory. Romania’s vice-champions this
past weekend have claimed the top position in Champions League Group B, now
having five points, and is the only undefeated team after the first three
fixtures. This follows Saturday’s win secured against the Polish side Perla
Lublin, which CSM won 35-19. The topscorer for CSM that game was Crina Pintea,
with six goals. For her remarkable performance we have designated her Athlete
of the Week on RRI.

Crina Pintea was
born April 3, 1990 in Podu Turcului, Bacau County. She made her professional
debut with HC Zalau, at the time coached by Gheorghe Tadici. In 2012 she
reached the EHF Cup final. A year later, Zalau, with Pintea in its first
lineup, played the semi-finals of the same competition. In 2015 Crina Pintea
started talks for a move to HCM Baia Mare, which made coach Tadici bench her.
She was eventually signed by Germany’s Thuringer, with which she won Bundesliga
in 2016. In 2017 she moved to Issy Paris Hand, today known as Paris 92. In
the 2017-2018 season she was designated best pivot in the French domestic championship.
From Paris 92 she moved to Gyor in Hungary, with which she won Champions League
this season. Starting this autumn Crina Pintea is playing for CSM Bucharest.

Crina Pintea’s
debut match for the national team was in 2012. Three years later she won bronze
with Romania at the World Championships in Denmark. At the European
Championship in December 2018, Romania ranked 4th, and Pintea was
included in the competition’s dream team.

(Translated by V. Palcu)