The countdown is now running out in that of Sofia, which from tomorrow to Sunday will be the theater of the European Judo Championships 2022. Three days of competition in which 14 continental titles will be awarded, with the Italian National team that will try to play a leading role in as many categories as possible to try to confirm or even improve the loot obtained in the last edition of Lisbon 2021 (a gold , a silver and a bronze). So let’s go and discover in detail the hopes for a blue medal day by day.
FRIDAY 29 APRIL
The tricolor selection immediately drops the aces in day-1 especially at the women’s level, but at least one exploit by an Italian outsider in the men’s light categories should not be excluded. Great expectation in the 48 kg for the couple formed by Francesca Milani (fifth seed) e Assunta Scutto (n.7 of seeding), with the latter having already shown that it can beat anyone even among the seniors despite the young age and lack of experience.
The spotlight is obviously also on Odette Giuffridawho is chasing the third consecutive European final in the 52 kg after the gold of 2020 and the silver of 2021. The 27-year-old Roman will have to overcome herself to beat the French Amandine Buchard (or the Kosovan Distria Krasniqi) possibly in the final act, but a place on the podium is within his reach.
A decidedly more complex medal objective for our other color-bearers in the race. Angelo Pantano he is an outsider in the 60 kg after having finished 7th in the last two European Championships, even if so far he has always lacked that little bit more to go all the way in a great event. Big unknowns instead in the 66 kg per Elios Manzi and Mattia Miceli, after a season start without treble in the major circuit.
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SATURDAY 30 APRIL
Day-2 in which the men will have the greatest chance of a medal, in fact Martina Esposito and Irene Pedrotti I am making my absolute debut in a Senior European Championship in the 70 kg after having played the very final in the last continental Under 23 review. Manuel Lombardo absent due to technical choice, in the 73 kg Fabio Basile (fifth this year in Paris) e Giovanni Esposito (5th in the last edition) will be luxury outsiders in a category without dominators and open to any scenario. Less chance on the card in the -81 kg per Antonio Esposito (already European bronze in 2018), which could still target the Final Block especially in the event of a favorable draw.
SUNDAY 1 MAY
Closing day much more lively than in the recent past for the blue colors, following the change of category made by two of the most crystalline talents of the Italian movement. Christian Parlati he is European bronze in charge in the -81 kg, but this year he will be engaged in the 90 kg after having already shown that he can be immediately competitive against heavier opponents.
Alice Bellandi instead she went from 70 to 78 kg after Tokyo, climbing on the podium in two of the three races held in 2022. Much will depend on the draw, but the talented Brescia already seems capable of playing for a continental medal. Important ambitions in the same event also for Giorgia Stangherlin, fresh from a good start to the season and author of the first real great acute of her career at a senior level at the 2020 European Championships, touching a medal.
Photo: IJF
