Highlights of the 2009 Moldavian sports year

The 2009 year has already become a historic one in the world sports. For the Moldavian sport this year was greatly successful as well. Internet TV SPORTS.md has made up a top 20 of the hottest moments of the Moldavian sports year.

20. The biathelte Levcenkov Natalia proved different levels of performances this year. Although she had disappointed by the end of the year, the athlete born in Russia stepped up on the 3rd position at the European Cup.

19. The European Cup at hammer throwing between athletes up to 23 years, ended up with the victory of Zalina Marghieva. She is a disciple of the famous Moldavian coach, Mihail Cravţov.

18. Another Moldavian athlete, Cristina Iovu, stepped up on the podium at the European Weightlifting Championship on the 2nd rank. However, the Ministry of Youth and Sport has named her the best athelete of this year. 

17. Footballers Serghei Covalciuc, Stanislav Ivanov and Sergiu Dadu not once refused to perform for the squad coached by Igor Dobrovolski. Before the games with Luxembourg and Greece, Moldova coach presented their refusal letters to the press. 

16. Eugeniu Musalimov's victory at the World Kick-Boxing Championships is a great one. In Madrid, our wrestler has won the gold medal in the heavyweight category.

15. Ministry of Youth and Sport declared Igor Grabucea the best sportsman of the year. He managed to win two bronze medals at the European Championships in Bucharest.

14. The most successful judo wrestler was Marcel Trudov, who was the 3rd at the European Championship.

13. One of the scorers of the National Division, Erik Sakey, decided to run away from Moldova. The striker left for his native country Ghana in November. Sakey still belongs to Olimpia, but the club will lend him to a foreign team in this interseason.

12. Moldova was visited this year by the UEFA and FIFA presidents, Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter, who have visited the Vadul-lui-Voda sportive complex.

11. Another footballer has become the protagonist of the most expensive transfer in the Moldova football history. FC Dinamo purchased Alexander Epureanu for 4 million euros from FC Moscow. Epureanu was named the best footballer of the year.

10. The top 10 includes the Under 23 rugby squad. Our team became the silver medalist at the European Championship, organized in Chisinau. The Champion became the representative of Poland.

9. Moldova national football team did not make us happy again. All the boys could do was a draw with Greece, but it came 4 days after the draw with Luxembourg, which managed a higher position in the final classment. 

8. The best team in Moldova, Sheriff, began the year very well, with a victory in the CIS Cup in Moscow. The squad from Tiraspol has won the finals over the champions from Kazakhstan, Aktobe.

7. Victor Cotiujanschi, the boxer born in Grimancauti, was the 2nd this year at the AIBA President Cup, held in Tashkent in December.

6. This year was the best in the coaching career for Alexandru Spiridon. The helper of Mircea Lucescu at Shakhtar Donetsk, became the winner of last edition of the UEFA Cup. Shakhtar won in overtime the German team Werder.

5. The best athlete of the year, according to the Sports Press Association in Moldova was chosen Ion Luchianov. He won the World Universiade at 3000 meter race. The competition was held in Belgrade.

4. The Minister of Youth and Sport was chosen Ion Ciobanu. The most curious is that the Minister is just 29 years old.

3. The 3rd position of our classment was offered to the project set up by our site and the Football club Olimpia "Become a Football Star in a Moment", which intends to invite any interested person to perform in the European Cups. The one who pays the highest amount of money will be allowed to play for Olimpia. The famous Formula 1 pilot Michael Schumaher, was invited to come to Moldova.

2. The elections of the MFF President have been extremely tense. Pavel Cebanu was reelected for another 4 years, but in the end was criticized by his opponents Alexandru Guzun, Igor Oprea, Petru Efros and Vasile Vatamanu.

1. Finally, the first position is given to the football club Sheriff. The team from Tiraspol was the most pleasant surprise of the year: the qualification to the League groups, the victory over the Dutch champion Twente, and 2 draws with Steaua.