Table tennis: World bronze for Romania, after 26 years. The tricolors were defeated by China in the semi-finals
The Romanian women's table tennis team, composed of Bernadette Szocs, Elizabeta Samara, Andreea Dragoman, Adina Diaconu and Elena Zaharia, won the world bronze in London on Saturday, being defeated in the semi-finals by China, score 3-0.
The path of the tricolors at the World Table Tennis Championship was a remarkable one. It is the first medal for Romania at an edition of the WC, 26 years after the bronze obtained by the tricolors in Kuala Lumpur, writes News.ro.
The women's team of Romania, third in the ranking of world medals obtained throughout history (5 gold – 1950, '51, '53, '55, '56; 4 silver – 1952, '57, '63, '69; 4 bronze – 1939, '48, '61, 2000) and China, the most successful women's team of all, faced off. times (23 gold – 1965, '75, '77, '79, '81, '83, '85, '87, '89, '93, '95, '97, 2000, '01, '04, '06, '08, '12, '14, '16, '18, '22, '24; 5 silver – 1961, '71, '73, '91, 2010; 3 bronze – 1957, '59, '63).
The world bronze medal comes 100 years after the establishment of FRTM. It is the first performance of this level after 26 years, since the last medal of this caliber. In 2000, in Kuala Lumpur, the Romanian team consisted of Otilia Bădescu, Ana Gogoriţă, Antonela Manac and Mihaela Şteff.
On Saturday, on table 1 in the OVO Arena Wembley, Romania played the world semi-final, the phase of the competition that ensures all the participants the bronze medals.
China, the reigning world champion, the team that has lifted the trophy 23 times in history, was the opponent of the European vice-champions en titre in the semifinal of the World Championship in London, a meeting a few days after the duel in the group stage.
Romania lost the semifinal against China, score 3-0, after three matches in which the tricolors tried to find the best shots and strategies at the game table in front of formidable opponents.
Elizabeta Samara (#44 in the world) lost to the sportswoman Sun Yingsha (#1 in the world), score 0-3 (3-11, 4-11, 5-11), and Bernadette Szocs (#26 in the world) entered the table, who highlighted her game in two balanced sets with Wang Manyu, but which she lost at the limit, score 0-3 (4-11, 9-11, 10-12). Andreea Dragoman (#57 in the world) – Kuai Man (#7 in the world) was the last match of the meeting Romania – China, but the tricolor could not change the course of the meeting, although it rose in many moments to the rhythm of the match. And she was defeated, score 0-3 (10-12, 6-11, 10-12).
The team behind the historic success consisted of:
- Coordinating coach of the mixed female and male team: Andrei Filimon
- Federal coach: Viorel Filimon
- Second coaches of the mixed team: Ionuţ Seni, Adrian Crişan, Mădălin Ionaşcu, Anamaria Sebe
- Next to them are: physiotherapists Justin Răduţu, Mircea Lascăr, doctor Dumitru Costin and psychologist Mioara Şincan
During the London 2026 WC, Romania defeated South Korea, 3-2, Taipei, 3-1, and lost to China, 3-0, in the group stage, then, on the main table, eliminated the Netherlands, 3-0, Egypt, 3-2, and France, 3-1.
Thus, Romania remains in third place in the ranking of world medals won by the women's team throughout history (5 gold – 1950, '51, '53, '55, '56; 4 silver – 1952, '57, '63, '69; 5 bronze – 1939, '48, '61, 2000, '26), after China and Japan.
