Hănceanu joined Florin Zalomir, Tiberiu Dolniceanu and Rareș Dumitrescu in the national team. In the 2008–09 season, Romania won a silver medal in the European Championships at Plovdiv. In the World Championships in Antalya, Romania defeated Germany, then France and Hungary. In the final they met Italy again and this time prevailed 45–44 to take the first World title in sabre for Romania. For this performance, Hănceanu and his team-mates received the Order of Sports Merit, class IIa.