United Through Sports champion Dogaru helping promote para teqball in Romania
Rising para teqball star Stefan Dogaru is helping inspire the next generation of parasport athletes in Romania after winning won gold at the United Through Sports (UTS) World Virtual Youth Festival in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Inclusive Challenge event.
With Dogaru now using his success to motivate others to take up the sport, FITEQ and the Romanian Teqball Federation have donated a table to his school in Curtea de Argeș, so he can play with his classmates and continue to hone is skills as a future para teqball champion.
A table handover ceremony was held in Dogaru’s school, with the school’s director and headteacher, as well as his classmates were in attendance. Following the event, Dogaru said, “I'm very happy for the new teq table and I can't find the perfect words to describe what I felt when I saw it and what I'm still feeling. Now I can train every day and involve other children from my high school in this amazing sport. I wish to find more para athletes in Romania and one day soon we can have national para teqball competitions.”
During this weekend’s (29 April – 1 May) European Teqball Tour event in Targu-Mures, Romania, a para teqball demonstration event will be held as part of a promotional effort in the country. Dogaru will be in attendance at the European Teqball Tour and will participate in the demonstration event.
Dogaru’s school director Gabriela Pătru reflected on how proud she is of her student, saying, “Stefan is truly an inspiration and we are very proud of his achievements. At such a young age he demonstrates real maturity and he is a role model for the other students in our school. Despite the challenges he has faced, he is always optimistic and always ready to overcome whatever hurdle life puts in front of him. He is a very talented sportsman and he really is a trailblazer for the parasport community here in Romania. With the sport of teqball and para teqball growing so rapidly, I have no doubt Stefan can be a global star one day. But whatever path he decides to take, his exemplary attitude and determination will make him a success.”