Italian judo continues to grind weighty results and, after the record number of medals obtained in a single edition of the World Championships (4, in Doha), it climbs the podium for the first time in the Mixed Team European Championships on the occasion of the Team Event staged today at the Krynica-Zdrój Arena as part of the European Games Krakow 2023.
Dragged by one Odette Giuffrida in an extra luxury five-star version, the blue formation played an exceptional tournament even coming close to the big target, but still bringing home one splendid bronze medal which confirms the growth of an increasingly deep and competitive movement in many different weight categories.
Edoardo Mella (-73 kg), Nicholas Mungai (-90 kg), Christian Parlati (-90 kg), Gennaro Pirelli (+90 kg), Kwadjo Anani (+90 kg, never used in the various shifts), Giuffrida (-57 kg), Thauany David Capanni Dias (-57 kg), Irene Pedrotti (-70 kg), Asya Tavano (+70 kg) and Giorgia Stangherlin (+70 kg, remained on the bench) started today’s journey with a clear victory at the they beat Romania 4-0 in the round of 16, thus joining the reigning champions and big favorites France in the quarter-finals.
European Games 2023 medal table: Italy leaves, clear first place! Scatter the pursuers!
However, our standard bearers outdid themselves, recovering from a 0-2 disadvantage and taking the series to the play-off at 3-3 (thanks to the points from Giuffrida, Pirelli and Mella), in which Odette beat for the second time in a row a big weight of -57 kg like Priscilla Gneto giving the Bel Paese the passage of the round. In the semifinals, the Italian team stood up to another superpower of the caliber of Georgia, however losing to the “fine” after a spectacular series (blue victories by Pirelli, Capanni Dias and Pedrotti).
The final for the bronze medal proved to be without history, with Italy outclassing Portugal full score for 4-0 thanks to the successes of Parlati, Giuffrida, Mella and Pedrotti. The continental title went to Georgia, who defeated Germany 4-1 in the final, while the second bronze went to Holland after their 4-1 victory over France.
Photo: IJF
2023-07-01 20:09:28
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