Judo athletes head to Zagreb on Friday for the World Judo Tour Grand Prix, marking the third-to-last major stop on the international calendar.
Italy brings 21 athletes to the Balkan event, featuring nine men and twelve women hunting for Olympic ranking points toward the Los Angeles 2028 Games, La Sicilia reported.
Two Sicilian competitors highlight the Italian roster in different weight classes and sports groups.
Palermo-born Giulia Carnà competes in the 57 kg category for Gs Fiamme Oro, while Iblean judoka Savita Russo fights in the 63 kg division for Gs Fiamme Azzurre, according to La Sicilia.
Carnà trained under master Fabrizio Fantauzzo after starting at Virtus Villabate, and Russo developed at the Koizumi Scicli gym under master Maurizio Pelligra before joining Gs Fiamme Azzurre, en.lasicilia.it reported.
Carnà will not compete at the Under 23 European Championships in Naples due to a muscle strain following her ninth-place finish at the senior World Championships in Baku, en.lasicilia.it reported.
Sofia Mazzola steps into the 48 kg category for Cs Carabinieri in Naples, taking the spot previously held by the reigning continental champion, en.lasicilia.it reported.
Russo returns to international competition following an elbow injury sustained in June at the Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, en.lasicilia.it reported.
The 2005-born athlete prepared for her return between Turin with coach Francesco Bruyere and Scicli with master Pelligra, en.lasicilia.it reported.
International competition continues through mid-December, featuring the Grand Slam in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 4, followed by the World Judo Masters in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Dec. 18, La Sicilia reported.
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