CHISINAU, December 21, 2017 – The SportsPress Association of the Republic of Moldova (APSM) organized the traditionalyearly awards ceremony, honoring the athletes that have showcased the mostremarkable results in 2017.
APSM President Eduard Ciobanu opened theevent, held at the prestigious Mi Piace restaurant in Chisinau, with a reviewof this year’s major sporting achievements. Notably, President Ciobanu madegood on his last year's promise to edit Moldova's only full-color sportsmagazine. The latest edition was presented to those in attendance.
Wrestler Mariana Cherdivara-Esanu was namedthe Best Female Athlete of the year. In May Mariana won the silver medal at theEuropean Championship while (unknowingly) pregnant with her second child. Theathlete, who is due to give birth within the next few weeks, came in to pick upher award in person. Her coach Constantin Cobilean was named the Best Coach ofthe year.
Aaron Cook (taekwondo WTF) picked up theBest Male Athlete trophy. In 2017, the athlete earned a bronze medal of theWorld Championship, as well as a silver and a bronze of the World TaekwondoGrand Prix series. Aaron’s brother Luke, who also serves as his coach, came insecond in the Best Coach category.
Moldovan press also honored one moretaekwondo representative. Petru Cataraga won the “Sports of EqualPossibilities” nomination. The athlete who competes in para-taekwondo currentlyis the 5th in the world rankings. This year he earned the silver medal of theIWAS World Games and the bronze of the European Championship.
Wrestler Daniel Cataraga, judokas DorinGotonoaga and Eugen Matveiciuc, as well as FC Sheriff Tiraspol, which becameMoldova’s first ever football club to play in the group stages of the EuropaLeague, earned the title of the Team of the Year.
President of the Taekwondo Federation IgorIuzefovici, President of the Football Federation Pavel Cebanu as well as thePresident of the Fighting & Entertainment Association of Moldova DorinDamir were honored with the Personality of the Year awards.
During the Gala, some of the most prominentpersonalities of the Moldovan sports press community received the GovernmentalDiplomas. Vadim Caftanat, Radu Galbur, Ion Buga and Victor Orehov receivedfirst grade honors, while Iulian Bogatu and Dumitru Ciolacu received the secondgrade distinctions. Fifteen more, aswell as sports media veterans also received special distinctions.
