Arena Chișinău is ready to host the best weightlifters in Europe

More than 300 athletes from 40 countries will participate in the first ever European Weightlifting Championship in Moldova. // Photo: haltere.md

As Logos Press previously wrote, the “rehearsals” for the upcoming tournament were the European Youth Championships in weightlifting (U-15 and U-17 age categories), which Moldova successfully hosted in 2023. In those competitions, the organizational and technical aspects of holding major international tournaments were worked out, and the venue that hosted the competitions (Arena Chișinău) was provided with all the necessary infrastructure. The EWF (European Weightlifting Federation) highly appreciated the level of the tournament, and at the Congress of the organization last February, our country was given preference. The competitors were the world recognized powers in the world of weightlifting – Albania and Georgia.

Our country will be represented at the European Championship by 28 weightlifters (see the table). A few days before the start of the tournament there may be some minor changes in the lineup, but the backbone is formed.

According to Antonio Conflitti, the president of the Moldovan Weightlifting Federation (also the head of EWF), the preparation has been going on for several months in an intensified mode, due to the participation of weightlifters in the European Games. Weightlifting was included in the program of the competitions for the first time.

– The European Games are higher in status than the European Championship, and preparation for them requires mobilization of all available resources. Athletes are always in close cooperation with the coaching staff in order to be as prepared as possible, – said Antonio Conflitti. – We will host the European Championship for the first time, it is a great honor for us, but we do not forget about what awaits us in the future. As for the upcoming tournament, I would like to note our advantage – it will be the first time that opponents from abroad will have to play in our arena. We are counting on the support of “home walls” and a good result.

The leader of the national team at the moment is 24-year-old Marin Robu, who took 4th place at the Olympic Games in Paris. There is still a controversy surrounding the story of the judges’ erroneous awarding the 3rd place to Italian weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato, according to observers. Less than two months ago, the Moldovan Weightlifting Federation filed an official protest to the International Federation, after which the case is to be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (Switzerland). The final decision of the court should be expected in the near future.

At the previous European Championships, Marin Robu’s highest achievement was winning a silver medal in Moscow (Russia) in 2021. However, then he was represented in a lighter weight category – up to 73 kg. In 2022 in Yerevan (Armenia) and a year later in Sofia (Bulgaria), after moving to the 89 kg weight category, the native of Nisporeni won two bronze medals.

The native walls will help the weightlifter to show his best qualities, and with the support of the tribunes Marin Robu may well claim at least a silver medal. Although for the coaching staff and the Weightlifting Federation as a whole the maximum task is the top step of the podium in the men’s competitions in the weight category up to 89 kg.

Among other representatives of the men’s part of the national team there are several weightlifters who claim high places. Tudor Bratu took the top step of the podium at the European Youth Championships held in Raszyn, Poland, late last year. In the weight category up to 102 kg the athlete conquered the total weight of 380 kg (170 kg in snatch and 210 kg in jerk). In weightlifting, medals are awarded not only for the total index, but also separately for each of the two events – snatch and jerk. Tudor Bratu outperformed his rivals in both events and won one main and two additional gold medals.

At the same championship Ion Badanev also won the status of European champion in the weight category up to 61 kg. He lifted a total weight of 265 kg (118 kg in the deadlift, 3rd place, and 147 kg in the snatch, 1st place). Danu Sekrieru and Julian Betka won bronze medals in the weight category up to 55 kg (both conquered a total weight of 228 kg).

At last year’s European Youth Championships (U-17), Alexander Balji demonstrated his maximum by lifting 124 kg in the snatch and 151 kg in the deadlift. With a total of 275 kg, he became the overall champion in the 67 kg weight category. In 2023, he won a silver medal at the European Junior Championships.

The women’s part of the Moldovan national weightlifting team is represented by both established athletes (Elena Erigina, Catherine Grabucha, Anastasia Cilcic) and promising young athletes who proved themselves at international junior and youth competitions.

Alexandrina Ciubotaru won the silver medal at the European U-20 Championship last year in the weight category up to 75 kg, having perfectly performed the snatch exercise (she lifted 102 kg and took the 1st place) and showing the 2nd result in the snatch (125 kg, total weight – 227 kg). The athlete is also the European U-20 champion in the weight category up to 76 kg, a title she won in 2023.

Nicoleta Cojocaru is the current world champion among juniors (U-17) in the weight category up to 55 kg. At the World Championships held in 2024 in Lima (Peru), the athlete recorded a weight of 80 kg in snatch and 103 kg in jerk (total weight – 183 kg). In the same year, she became European champion (U-15), lifting a total weight of 179 kg (81 kg and 98 kg).

Young weightlifter Gabriela Danilova successfully performed last year at the European Junior Championships (U-15). At the competition in Thessaloniki (Greece), the Moldovan athlete won a gold medal in the weight category up to 45 kg, lifting a total weight 1 kg more than her closest rival from Turkey. In the snatch she reached a weight of 60 kg and in the jerk – 71 kg.

The leader of the women’s team Elena Erygina (Kylchik) is the current European vice-champion in weightlifting. At the last championship in Bulgaria she won a silver medal in the weight category up to 81 kg. Naturally, she is aiming for a medal of the highest dignity in her home country. Previously, she won a silver medal at the European Championships in 2021 and a bronze medal two years later.

Ekaterina Grabucha did not make it to the podium last year, but she also has a chance to win a medal. In 2023 she won a silver medal at the European Youth Championships. Ekaterina lifted weights totaling 133 kg (60 kg plus 73 kg).

We can only hope that the young athletes will not get lost among the older competitors, and that the more experienced ones will show themselves at their best. All the more, as it is known, the walls help at home.

Preliminary composition of the national team of Moldova at the European Championship in weightlifting (Kishineu, 13-21.04.2025)
Athlete	Date of birth	Weight category	Status
Women
Ekaterina Grabucha	31.07.2001	“up to 45 kg”	base
Gabriela Danilova	19.05.2009	“up to 45 kg”	base
Alina Popescu	18.11.2006	“up to 49 kg”	base
Nicoleta Cojocaru	11.05.2009	“up to 55 kg”	base
Maria Mitioglo	07.08.2001	“up to 59 kg”	base
Anastasiya Ilnitskaya	21.03.2010	“up to 64 kg”	reserve
Adriana Konak	20.05.2005	“up to 71 kg”	base
Alexandrina Ciubotaru	17.09.2005	“up to 76 kg”	base
Ekaterina Kuruskaia	16.03.1998	“up to 76 kg”	reserve
Elena Erygina (Kylchik)	03.06.1996	“up to 81 kg”	base
Tatiana Ciobanu	26.04.2001	“up to 81 kg”	base
Anastasiya Kylchik	19.11.2001	“up to 87 kg”	base
Men
Julian Betka	17.08.2003	“up to 55 kg”	base
Danu Sekrieru	24.02.2008	“up to 55 kg”	base
Andrian Komerzan	11.10.2005	“up to 55 kg”	reserve
Ion Badanev	16.01.2006	“up to 61 kg”	base
Daniel Lungu	16.10.1998	“up to 61 kg”	base
Dan Betka	17.02.2008	“up to 67 kg”	basis
Gabriel Danilov	22.01.2007	“up to 67 kg	reserve
Alexander Balji	26.03.2007	“up to 73 kg”	base
Victor Moroceanu	29.12.2001	“up to 81 kg”	base
Ion Mariuta	15.09.2006	“up to 81 kg”	reserve
Gheorghei Cernei	13.04.1990	“up to 81 kg”	reserve
Marin Robu	19.03.2000	“up to 89 kg”	base
Vadim Danutse	18.10.2006	“up to 89 kg”	reserve
Tudor Bratu	27.09.2002	“up to 102 kg”	base
Tudor Ciobanu	27.02.1999	“up to 109 kg”	base
Stanislav Uzha	15.07.2005	“over 109 kg”	reserve