by Ian Marshall, Editor

The peak of her career was in the early 1960s, an era when the formula for the Women’s Team event was four singles and one doubles, two players per team but often a third being introduced for the doubles. At the 1961 World Championships in Beijing, partnering Maria Alexandru, Georgeta Pitica secured Women’s Team bronze prior clinching Women’s Doubles gold.

Notably, in the Women’s Team competition they experienced a three-two defeat at the hands of China’s Sun Meiying, Chiu Chunghei and Hu Keming; notably they won the doubles overcoming Chiu Chunghei and Hu Keming. Later, in the Women’s Doubles competition, they beat Hu Keming and Wang Chien in the semi-final prior to securing the title at the hands of Chiu Chunghei and Sun Meiying.

Success in Beijing, two years later in 1963 when the tournament was held in Prague, there was a further medal for Georgeta Pitica; lining alongside Ella Constantinescu (the former Ella Zeller) and once again Maria Alexandru, the outfit secured Women’s Doubles silver. They were beaten in the final by Japan’s Kimiyo Matsuzaki and Masako Seki.

Notably, as a result of her outstanding performances, in 1961 Georgeta Pitica was awarded the Romanian Grand Master of Sports title and the Order of Merit for Labour Class II. In 2000, she received Romania’s National Medal for Merit Grade III.

Thoughtfully on hearing the news, Beatrice Romanescu, the Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the Romanian Table Tennis Federation spoke to Madalina, Georgeta Pitica’s daughter.

“There must have been an angel up there making sure her passage would be without suffering,” Madalina.

“Few athletes have touched our hearts to the extent that Mrs Geta did. The Romanian Table Tennis Federation and the Swaythling Club Romania send their condolences to Georgeta Pitica’s family. God rest her beautiful soul!” Beatrice Romanescu

We all echo those words; our thoughts are with Romania, with the family of Georgeta Pitica.