Cernei Ina
Main achievement
Parajudoka. She won 5th place at the European Para Judo Championships 2022
About
Ina Cernei is the first woman from the Republic of Moldova to practice para judo, becoming a symbol of determination and performance in adapted sports for visually impaired individuals. Blind since the age of 17, following an illness that began affecting her vision in the second grade, she started training at 33 and joined the national team in just a year and a half. Among her notable achievements are fifth place at the 2022 European Paralympic Judo Championship, silver at the World Sambo Cup in Armenia in the under 59 kg category, where she defeated athletes from Mongolia, and her debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where she competed in the under 57 kg category and was the flag bearer at the closing ceremony alongside Ion Basoc. The athlete collaborates closely with the Judo Federation of the Republic of Moldova and the National Paralympic Committee, training alongside colleagues such as Oleg Crețul, Ion Basoc, and Vadim Crețu, under the guidance of coaches who appreciate her logic and technique over physical strength. At the European Championship in Rotterdam, she placed fifth, alongside other members of the national team, contributing to the gold medals won by her compatriots. Ranked 12th in the world by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), Ina represents Moldova at major international tournaments, promoting sports inclusion and the adaptation of sports to the needs of people with disabilities. In her personal life, Ina Cernei maintains an active and experimental lifestyle, training daily with the boys on the team to face challenges, and considers sport a continuous school of life. Her childhood was marked by a sister with whom she shared daily tasks, and the loss of her sight initially brought anxiety and social difficulties, which she overcame through acceptance and the support of those around her. She emphasizes the importance of personal transformation, stating that "life is a school where we must learn until the end," and serves as an example for the integration of children with special educational needs into sports.
