Only a few months ago he had won the title of regional indoor champion but his hunger for conquests did not stop so much so that last July he won the national phase of the Pinocchio Trophy 2022, Memorial “Odilla Coccato” in the 2010 kids category. , first in the national ranking. Mattia Menditto of the Asd Arcieri Castiglionesi “Giovanni l’Acuto” is a young archer who, thanks to his skills, competes in a higher category. He is only 12 years old and he approached this sport 3 years ago.
“It all started during the Flower Fair in Foiano – he says – when I was invited to shoot with a wooden bow but I couldn’t hit even a pin. Once home I started training until I hit the target. Then I asked my parents if they wanted to turn that game into a sport. Hence the arrival in Castiglion Fiorentino and the meeting with the Asd Arcieri Castiglionesi ”.
“When I saw him shooting, I noticed so much potential in him,” adds Luigi Faralli, coach and coach of the sports club set up in Castiglion Fiorentino in 1978 and which saw its founder in Silvano Bennati and its historic president in Mauro Rossi. the company, which has 25 members and a dozen practitioners including several young people, sees in the role of president Jacopo Bennati, grandson of Silvano, a historical figure of the Tuscan and Italian archery, who in 2006 will graduate team world champion in the Juniores category in Sweden after winning the Italian title 4 times in the Junior category.
“Mattia has conquered the title of indoor regional champion in the kids category, breaking the competition. This result, considering the age of him who would like him in the Giovanissimi category, has even more value since it was obtained by competing in the higher category ”, explains the president Bennati.
In recent days, the municipal administration received Mattia Menditto, accompanied for the occasion by his parents and a representative of the Asd Arcieri Castiglionese “Giovanni l’Acuto”, who was awarded a certificate of merit for the brilliant successes obtained in these months.
“I have to thank all the people who have helped me and continue to follow me on my path. My victory is to be shared with all of them ”, declares the young archer during the delivery of the parchment. Mattia’s next challenge is scheduled for the end of this month of August, on the 28th, in Treviso where the Italian championship will take place. “For this race I train every day even for 3 hours straight”, concludes Mattia Menditto.
