Gerenzano, Italy — In a strong showing at the 2026 Coppa Italia Judo tournament held in Gerenzano, Lombardy, Italian judoka Martina de Paoli secured a fifth-place finish in the women’s -57 kg division, marking a promising step forward for the Riccionese ASD club and signaling growing competitiveness on the national circuit.
The event, hosted at the PalaBorsani sports complex from March 14–15, 2026, drew over 300 athletes from 45 clubs across Italy, competing in senior and junior categories under the auspices of the Italian Judo Federation (FIJLKJ). De Paoli, representing the Rimini-based Riccionese ASD, navigated a tough bracket that included former national champions and international circuit regulars, ultimately falling just short of the bronze medal match after a hard-fought semifinal loss to reigning Italian champion Giulia Pierucci of Fiamme Oro.
“It’s not the medal we wanted, but it’s the performance we needed,” de Paoli said in a post-match interview with the FIJLKJ media team. “I fought with discipline, stayed true to my grips, and showed I can hang with the best. Losing to Giulia was tough — she’s earned her spot — but I know what I have to fix. Fifth place isn’t the ceiling; it’s the baseline now.”
Her run began with a dominant ippon victory over Alessia Moro of Judo Club Torino in the opening round, followed by a waza-ari decision win against Sofia Bellini of ASD Budokan Bologna in the second round. In the quarterfinals, de Paoli edged out veteran Caterina Rossi of Polisportiva Lazio via a golden-score penalty, showcasing her resilience under pressure. The semifinal against Pierucci, however, proved decisive: after three minutes of regulated time ended in a tie, Pierucci scored with a counter-uchimata in overtime to advance to the final.
In the bronze medal match, de Paoli faced Eleonora Giaretta of Judo Club Brescia, a 2024 Mediterranean Games bronze medalist. Despite early aggression and several near-scoring opportunities, de Paoli couldn’t convert, and Giaretta secured the win with a osaekomi (hold-down) with 1:18 remaining in regulation.
The result places de Paoli within the top five nationally in her weight class for the 2025–2026 season, according to the FIJLKJ national ranking list updated post-tournament. She now sits fifth, behind Pierucci, Giaretta, Irene Pedrotti (Carabinieri), and Arianna Titan (Fiamme Gialle), but ahead of rising junior prospect Martina Ricci of Judo Club Rovereto.
For Riccionese ASD, a club traditionally known for developing talent in the Adriatic region but rarely breaking through at the senior national level, de Paoli’s performance represents a significant milestone. Club president Luca Moretti noted in a statement to local press that the result validates years of investment in coaching infrastructure and athlete support systems.
“Martina’s progression over the last 18 months has been steady and impressive,” Moretti said. “She’s balanced university studies in Bologna with elite training, and this result shows that consistency pays off. We’re not just building judokas — we’re building athletes who can compete anywhere in Italy.”
The Coppa Italia, now in its 42nd edition, serves as one of Italy’s premier domestic judo competitions, often acting as a barometer for Olympic cycle preparation. While not awarding world ranking points, it carries significant weight in national team selection considerations, particularly for emerging athletes aiming to break into senior international squads.
De Paoli, 24, has been on the radar of national coaches since her junior European Cup medal in 2022. Her performance in Gerenzano adds to a growing resume that includes a seventh-place finish at the 2025 Senior European Championships in Prague and a gold medal at the 2024 Mediterranean Games qualifier in Thessaloniki.
Looking ahead, her next confirmed checkpoint is the Italian National Championships in Rome, scheduled for May 23–25, 2026, where she will aim to break into the top three and secure automatic consideration for the European Championships later that summer. The tournament will likewise serve as a key evaluation event for the FIJLKJ’s preparations for the 2027 European Games in Baku and the 2028 Olympic qualification pathway.
For fans following her journey, updates are available through the official Italian Judo Federation website and Riccionese ASD’s social media channels, where training clips and competition highlights are regularly posted.
What stood out in Gerenzano wasn’t just the result, but the composure. De Paoli demonstrated improved tactical awareness, particularly in her use of asymmetric grips and transition defense — areas identified by her coaching staff as focal points after her 2024 season review. Her ability to recover from early-round pressure and push elite opponents into golden score suggests a maturation in both mental and technical readiness.
As Italy continues to strengthen its judo depth ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, performances like de Paoli’s in Gerenzano remind us that progress isn’t always measured in medals — sometimes, it’s measured in the quiet certainty that you belong among the best.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of Italian judo’s rise on the national and international stage.
