Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Sunday, 10 May 2026, 21:08 / Updated on Sunday, 10 May 2026 21:08
The members of the Romanian women's table tennis team and coach Andrei Filimon won the bronze medals at the World Team Championship, the first such distinction after a 26-year break.
The World Team Table Tennis Championship concluded in the OVO Wembley Arena with the day of the finals. China triumphed again on both fronts, the opponent being the representative of Japan each time. In men's, the victory was clear, 3-0in the female category, however, the emotions remained alive until the end, 3-2.
The awards ceremony for the women's competition, at which the executive vice-president officiated, on behalf of the international federation Beatrice Romanescubut it meant something really special for the Romanian team, the one who managed to return to a world podium after a long break of 26 years.
The five girls Bernadette Szocs, Elizabeta Samara, Andreea Dragoman, Elena Zaharia and Adina Deaconwere among the laureates, to receive their bronze medals, alongside the components of the German team. They were excited, they smiled and rejoiced with the coach Andrei Filimon for a success that was long overdue and that they fully deserved.
To get there, they passed in the first phase, 1A, in group 1, de South Korea and Taiwanyielding to Chinathen, on the elimination table, they overtook one by one Netherlands and Egypt to reach the quarterfinals.
The medal was already on the horizon, but to get it they needed to win Franceagain, because they were starting from an impressive 5-0 in direct games. And they prevailed, with an inevitable portion of emotions, 3-1, Bernadette Szocs bringing the redeeming point. They then celebrated upstairs on the gaming table, savoring the unique moment.
In the semi-final against China however, they didn't have many opportunities, losing 0-3 and four tight sets.
Message to supporters: “You guys were amazing!”
After completing their evolution, the girls sent a message via social media to everyone who cheered them on during the competition. “A dream come true. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported us” said Berni Szocs. “You guys were awesome“, added Eliza Samara, then everyone shouted in chorus: “Come on Romania!”.
The Romanian national team had not been on the world podium since 2000, when they wore the world bronze medals around their necks Otilia Badescu, Ana Gogoriță, Antonela Manac and Mihaela Steff. The women's team's record at the World Championships includes five gold medals (1950, '51, '53, '55, '56), four silver (1952, '57, '63, '69) and four bronze (1939, '48, '61, 2000).
