From Friday to Sunday, the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix brings the World Judo Tour to the Balkan nation for its third-to-last major event of the season.
Zagreb Grand Prix
Italy brings 21 athletes to the competition, featuring nine men and twelve women, with a heavy contingent representing Sicilian clubs and regional programs, La Sicilia reported.
The Italian roster aims for podium finishes and qualifying points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, according to La Sicilia.
International competition continues through December with a Grand Slam in Tokyo starting December 4 and the World Judo Masters in Dushanbe beginning December 18, La Sicilia reported.
Sicilian Talents
Among the Azzurri squad, two standout Sicilian competitors carry regional hopes on the international stage.
Giulia Carnà represents Fiamme Oro in the 57 kg division after developing her skills under master Fabrizio Fantauzzo at Virtus Villabate, La Sicilia reported.
Savita Russo competes for Fiamme Azzurre in the 63 kg category, emerging from the Koizumi Scicli program under master Maurizio Pelligra, La Sicilia reported.
Competitive Records
Russo entered the senior ranks after finishing fourth with Italy in the team event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, holding the 35th spot in the 63 kg world rankings, La Sicilia reported.
Her recent results include a seventh-place finish at the Lima senior Grand Prix in October 2025 and a bronze medal at the junior world championships that same month, La Sicilia reported. She placed first at the junior European championship in September 2025, second at the junior world championship in October 2024, and fifth at the Dushanbe Grand Slam in May 2024.
Carnà secured gold at the Under-23 European Championships in October 2025 and holds the 24th position in the 57 kg world rankings, La Sicilia reported. Her additional results include third at the Lausanne Grand Slam (August 2026), seventh at the Tashkent Grand Slam (February 2026), second at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam (November 2025), and seventh at the Prague Continental Open (September 2025).
Additional Team Context
Vincenzo Pelligra of the Fiamme Azzurre also competes for Italy in the 73 kg category, seeking Olympic qualification points. Previously, Giulia Carnà was sidelined from defending her 2025 Under-23 European title due to muscle fatigue, following a ninth-place finish at the world championships in Baku. Savita Russo previously competed in Ulaanbaatar, where she defeated Fidan Alizada before losing to Joanne van Lieshout.
Italian Roster
The complete Italian delegation for the Zagreb tournament includes Andrea Carlino and Valerio Accogli alongside Matteo Pirase in the men’s divisions, La Sicilia reported.
Fabio Basile, Antonio Esposito, Bright Maddaloni Nosa, Kenny Komi Bedel, Jean Carletti, and Tommaso Fava round out the men’s team, La Sicilia reported.
The women’s entries feature Assunta Scutto, Asia Avanzato, Gaia Stella, Ilaria Finestrone, Veronica Toniolo, Flavia Favorini, Sara Corbo, Nadia Simeoli, Erica Simonetti, and Tiziana Marini alongside Carnà and Russo, La Sicilia reported.
Tournament Schedule
Friday’s opening day features women’s competition in the -48 kg, -52 kg, and -57 kg categories alongside men’s -60 kg and -66 kg events, La Sicilia reported.
Saturday’s bouts cover the women’s -63 kg and -70 kg divisions alongside the men’s -73 kg and -81 kg weight classes, La Sicilia reported.
Sunday concludes the weekend with women’s -78 kg and +78 kg categories alongside men’s -90 kg, -100 kg, and +100 kg matches, La Sicilia reported.
