Moldova Debuts Judo Stars at Paralympics
Moldova will be sending a team of five athletes to compete for medals at the Paralympic Games in Paris, taking place between August 28 and September 8.
These athletes will be representing the country in three sports: para judo, para powerlifting, and para athletics.
For the first time ever, three judokas from Moldova's national para judo team have qualified for the Paralympic Games. Two of these athletes, Oleg Crețul and Ion Basoc, are currently ranked second in the world in their respective weight categories (up to 90 kg for Crețul and 90+ kg for Basoc), positioning Moldova with a strong chance of medaling according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education.
Last year, both Crețul and Basoc secured European titles. They further bolstered their achievements with bronze medals at the World Championships and a gold medal at the Tokyo Grand Prix, which is the most prestigious para judo tournament held globally.
Ina Cernei (up to 57 kg category) is set to make her Paralympic debut in Paris. This will mark a historic moment, as she will become the first Moldovan judoka to compete at this level.
Larisa Marinenkova, a veteran of the Moldovan Paralympic movement and a para powerlifter, is preparing to compete in her fifth consecutive Paralympic Games. She will also have the honour of carrying the Moldovan flag during the Games' opening ceremony.
Moldova's rising para athletics star, Gheorghe Spînu, will be throwing the shot put in the F35 category. In May, this athlete achieved a commendable 7th-place finish at the World Para Athletics Championships.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
