Judo Kumiai Dominates 5th Sharin Cup in Quiliano with Massive Medal Haul

The athletes of Judo Kumiai delivered a commanding performance at the 5th Sharin Cup, securing a significant trophy haul in the heart of Italy’s Liguria region. Competing in Quiliano, the team demonstrated depth across multiple age brackets, bringing home eight gold, seven silver, and nine bronze medals, along with five fifth-place finishes.

The event, hosted at the local palazzetto in Quiliano—a town situated in the hinterland between Savona and Vado Ligure—served as a critical testing ground for the Druento-based club. The competition featured a rigorous schedule of bouts across the Cadetti, Es.A, and Es.B categories, with the Kumiai squad proving to be one of the most formidable forces on the tatami.

Cadetti Category: A Golden Start

The competition opened with the Cadetti category, where Judo Kumiai set the tone early. Elisa Palermo provided the standout performance of the division, capturing the gold medal in the +70kg weight class. Palermo’s victory is particularly timely as she uses the Sharin Cup to refine her technique and conditioning ahead of her upcoming appearance at the European Cup in Berlin.

Whereas Palermo took the top spot, the team too found success in the middleweight divisions. Chiara Daniele, competing in the 57kg category, and Anna Chiara Fossati, fighting in the 63kg category, both secured bronze medals, ensuring the club started the tournament with a strong presence on the podium.

Es.B Division: Depth and Resilience

The Es.B category saw a surge of medals as the younger athletes stepped up. Three fighters reached the top of the podium to claim gold: Chiara Campanella (40kg), Aurora Megale (52kg), and Nicolò Carra (46kg). Their victories underscored the technical proficiency and tactical discipline being instilled in the club’s developmental ranks.

The silver medal count was bolstered by a strong showing from five other athletes who reached the finals but fell just short of the gold. These included Carlotta Dipasquale (44kg), Nicole Grigoli (52kg), Nicolò Pace (42kg), Emanuele Morese (46kg), and Giancarlo Vinassa (50kg).

Rounding out the Es.B results, the team added three bronze medals to their tally. Camilla Tamagnone (40kg), Edoardo Aloisio (46kg), and Adriano Della Bernardina (66kg) all fought their way back into the medals after initial setbacks, showcasing the mental toughness required in tournament judo.

Es.A Category: Continuing the Momentum

The Es.A athletes maintained the high standard set by their teammates. The category yielded four more gold medals for the club, as Leonardo Gati (34kg), Raul Macrì (50kg), Carlotta Hernandez-Valente (52kg), and Alessandro Golfrè Andreasi (55kg) all secured first-place finishes.

The consistency across these three different age groups highlights a comprehensive training program at the Judo Kumiai club, where athletes are performing at a high level from the introductory Es.A stages through to the more advanced Cadetti ranks.

Performance Summary

The sheer volume of medals reflects a team operating at peak form. For a global audience unfamiliar with the structure, the “Es.” categories (Esordienti) represent the youth developmental levels of judo, while the “Cadetti” represent a more advanced adolescent tier. Winning across all three indicates a healthy pipeline of talent.

Note: Some individual results for Es.A silver and bronze were not fully detailed in the official reports.

Looking Ahead

With the 5th Sharin Cup concluded, the focus for the club’s elite athletes now shifts toward international competition. The primary checkpoint for the team is the European Cup in Berlin, where Elisa Palermo will represent the club on a larger stage. Her gold medal performance in Quiliano serves as a strong indicator of her readiness for the higher intensity of European-level competition.

For more updates on the team’s progress and upcoming tournament schedules, follow the official club communications.