Silver and bronze at Female Wrestling European Championship

Moldova got two more medals at the Wrestling European Championship in Germany. On Thursday, March 21, in women’s contest, Ludmila Cristea won the silver medal, while Natalia Budu rounded the top three, Info-Prim Neo reports. In the 55kg category, Cristea obtained 4 victories, but lost the decisive fight to Sweden’s Ida Nerell. The 35 year old Moldovan athlete finished runner-up for the third time, after similar results in 2006 and 2008. Meanwhile, Natalia Budu won two matches, including one against conational Angela Dorogan, on road to the 51kg category semifinals, where she was bested by Ukraine’s Iulia Blahinya. The latter went on to become European champion, while the Budu defeated Maria Ivanova from Belarus to win the bronze medal. This is Natalia Budu’s first honor at such an important competition. Another Moldovan representative, 16 year old Iulia Leorda, was eliminated in the first round of the 48kg category. In the opening day of the Championship, Moldova won a bronze medal through Nicolae Ceban, in men’s 96kg category. The Greco-Roman wrestling competition will start these days.