LT Oleg Sirghi Wins First Gold Medal at European Weightlifting Championship

Chisinau, April 9, 2013 — Lt Oleg Sirghi won the gold medal at the 56 kg category contest in the European Weightlifting Championship, held in Albania. The National Army officer won a total of two gold medals and one silver medal at the above competition.

Lt. Oleg Sirghi won the first place at the 261 kg category of the weightlifting competition, followed by the Bulgarian Asen Muradov, who got the silver medal, and the Belgian Tom Ghegheber, on the third place. The Moldovan athlete won two more medals separately for each exercise. In the snatch category, Oleg Sirghi won the silver medal for the 116 kg category. The athlete also lifted 145 kg and won the gold medal.

Lt. Sirghi has become the European champion for the second time over the past three years. First time, he won the gold medal in 2011, at the weightlifting championship in Kazan, Russia. Last year, the National Army officer won the silver medal in a weightlifting competition, being conquered by an athlete from Azerbaijan.

Acting Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta commented on Lt. Sirghi’s performance and said the leaders of the defense institution will meet him at the Chisinau International Airport. Moreover, the Ministry of Defense considers the possibility of awarding the winner with a distinction of the institution.

Republic of Moldova is represented by 8 athletes in this year’s European Championship.