Swimming/Pan Zhanle: I invited David Popovici to China, but he couldn't come, so I came to Romania
Chinese Olympic swimming champion Pan Zhanle, the world record holder in the men's 100m freestyle, said on Friday that he had been determined to train alongside David Popovici. As the Romanian swimmer was unable to accept his invitation to train in China, Pan travelled to Bucharest for a joint training camp instead.
'At first I wanted to invite David to China for this training camp, but unfortunately he couldn't come. So we came to Romania instead. That's one of the reasons why I'm here. I'll definitely be supporting him at the European Championships. This week I've learned from David his concentration, his ability to stay focused and his self-discipline,' Pan said at a press conference.
The Chinese champion, who succeeded Popovici as the holder of the world record in the 100m freestyle, said he had enjoyed his stay in Romania.
'I feel very good here. The weather is lovely and the people are very friendly. I've also tried Romanian food and it's delicious. I especially enjoyed the food at the restaurant we visited on Wednesday - everything was excellent. I even tried some Chinese food because it's my favourite,' Pan added, admitting that, apart from knowing David Popovici, he had previously known virtually nothing about Romania.
Olympic champions David Popovici and Pan Zhanle are currently holding a joint training camp in Bucharest, training at the Lia Manoliu and Dinamo swimming facilities. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
Bucharest Days: Concerts, video mapping projections, and guided tours, Saturday and Sunday
Bucharest Days will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday with concerts, performances, video mapping projections, guided tours, and debates. The event marks 567 years since the city's first documentary attestation, the Capital's City Hall announced on Wednesday on its Facebook page. The 11th edition of 'IMAPP Bucharest' will take
IGSU: Greece mission ends; 120 firefighters, in three shifts, stationed near Athens
Romanian firefighters have completed their mission in Greece, where they supported the Greek authorities in fighting wildfires. 'Today, the final shift is completing its mission and heading home, after bringing the experience and spirit of solidarity of Romanian firefighters to Greece,' the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said on F
Mihnea Costoiu elected President of the Regional Conference of Rectors of Member Institutions in Central and Eastern Europe
Mihnea Costoiu, Rector of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, has been elected President of the Regional Conference of Rectors of Member Institutions in Central and Eastern Europe (C2R-ECO) within the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF). A total of 74% of C2R-ECO voting members took part in the election.
Romanian Crown Custodian, Margareta, congratulates training ship 'Mircea' on return from Transatlantic Voyage
The Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Her Majesty Margareta, sent a congratulatory message to the crew of the training ship 'Mircea' upon their return from the Transatlantic Voyage, underscoring that the presence of the military personnel reaffirmed Romania's commitment to the principles and values of the great transatlantic family. 'It is with
Victoriei Square protest/Gendarmerie: 47 people who committed anti-social acts taken to police stations
A total of 47 people who participated in the protest in Victoriei Square and committed anti-social acts were taken to police stations, the Bucharest Gendarmerie informed on Tuesday evening. The quoted source said that, at the same time, people who committed anti-social acts are to be identified and evidence gathered against them based on operational footage an
Bucharest to host 2028 Europa League final
The UEFA Executive Committee on Tuesday appointed the National Arena in Bucharest City the host of the 2028 Europa League final, the Romanian Football Federation announced on its official website. 'The UEFA Executive Committee appointed today, September 15, Bucharest and the National Arena the official hosts of the 2028 UEFA Europa League Final. The decisi
All Deva Inventcor Academy projects, awarded at Guangzhou International Exhibition of Inventions
All six inventions and programmes of the Deva Inventcor Academy, that have been presented at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Guangzhou (China), were awarded by the exhibition jury, the team coordinated by inventor Corneliu Birtok Baneasa having managed to win two gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals. The competition gathered over 3,700 i
Covasna County to host 6th edition of EVA FilmMakers Fest
Screenings of films signed by women directors from Romania and abroad, workshops and meetings with audiences are included in the programme of the sixth edition of the EVA FilmMakers Fest, which will take place from 22 to 27 September in several locations across Covasna County, the organisers announce. According to the organisers, the events will be held in Sfa
Photography exhibition dedicated to the Slovak community in Bihor to open in Oradea, with Slovak ambassador attending
An exhibition featuring 60 photographs by photographer Stefan Toth Istvan, inspired by the life and traditions of the Slovak community in Bihor, will be presented on September 19 under the title 'The Slovaks of Valea Cerului Festival'. The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday in the presence of the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Romania,
Several hundred shepherds gather on pavement in front of Antipa Museum
Several hundred shepherds are participating in a protest on Tuesday morning, for which mobilisation was organised on social media, with the shepherds moving from the car park in Victoriei Square, where they initially gathered, to the pavement in front of the Antipa Museum. Protesters contacted by AGERPRES declined to comment. The shepherds'
The economy restarts when people and businesses begin to have confidence in tomorrow again (minister)
Economic adjustment must create the conditions for restoring confidence and achieving healthy growth, while an economy does not restart through laws, ordinances or public statements, but when people and businesses once again begin to have confidence in tomorrow, interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare believes. According to him, August saw the fastest slowdo
Romania defeat Türkiye and advance to round of 16 at CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026
Romanian men's national volleyball team qualified for the round of 16 at the 2026 European Volleyball Championship - CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026, hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland and Romania, after defeating Türkiye 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 20-25, 25-18) on Monday evening at the BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca, in a Group E match. The Tricolours secured the win in o
Interim ForMin Toiu attends 70th session of IAEA General Conference
Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu is leading Romania's delegation at the 70th Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, taking place in Vienna from September 14 to 18, with her participation focusing on the day of national statements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) conveyed. According to the MAE, in her sp
President Dan: We face the same threat on the eastern flank and in the Arctic region
We face the same threat on the eastern flank and in the Arctic region, and behind this threat is the Russian Federation, President Nicusor Dan said on Monday before attending the European Arctic Summit in Finland. 'We are an important country on the eastern flank and we face the same threat on the eastern flank and in the Arctic region. Of course, Russia i
American violinist, 11, becomes youngest-ever George Enescu International Competition winner
Eleven-year-old American violinist Jayden King has won First Prize in the Violin Section of the 2026 George Enescu International Competition, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the competition. Italy's Francesco Papa won Second Prize and South Korea's Eun Che Kim Third Prize following the final held on Sunday at the Romanian Athenaeum. Jayd