Leinì, Italy – A productive weekend for young Italian judoka saw several regional athletes claim medals at the Trofeo Italia in Leinì, Turin, while others competed at the Junior European Cup in Portimao, Portugal. The Skorpion Pordenone club was particularly successful, securing fourth place in the team standings at the domestic competition.
The Trofeo Italia, held at the Pala Maggiore in Leinì, showcased the talent of Italy’s up-and-coming judo stars. Elisa Mosca of Skorpion Pordenone delivered a standout performance, winning gold in the under-36 kg category. Mosca’s path to victory included three decisive wins by ippon against Martina Liparoti, Zoe Cercignani, and Adele Consalvo. “It was a good experience,” Mosca said, reflecting a commitment to both self-improvement and her club.
Sebastiano Pianon also impressed for Skorpion Pordenone, earning a silver medal in the under-55 kg division. Pianon secured four victories – including ippon wins over Manuel Zennaro and Daniele Papa, and waza ari scores against Alex Baleani and Matteo Guglieri – before falling to Mario Aloise in the final. “It was a good competition, and I will do even better,” Pianon stated, demonstrating a determined spirit.
Coach Rossolato, accompanying the Skorpion Pordenone team, praised the athletes’ focus throughout the long competition. “Even though the day was long, everyone maintained a good level of concentration, and even those who didn’t achieve the results they hoped for put in the effort,” she commented.
Skorpion Pordenone’s strong showing earned them fourth place in the team standings, trailing only Atletico Judo Alexandria, Kumiai, and KSDK Parma. The regional medal count was further boosted by bronze medals for Eleonora Boezio (Kuroki Tarcento) in the under-36 kg category and Adriano Bronzin (DLF Yama Arashi Udine) in the under-50 kg division.
Boezio faced an initial setback, losing her first match to Adele Consalvo, but rebounded strongly in the repechage. She secured her bronze medal with two ippon wins – against Anna Manzetto and a waza ari victory over Zoe Cercignani. Bronzin also navigated a challenging path, winning his preliminary matches with double waza ari scores against Tommaso Guerra and Andrei Gansca before losing to Federico Budau. He then fought back through the repechage, winning all three matches by ippon against Leonardo Foresta, Giancarlo Vinassa, and Matteo Bontempi.
“I feel much improved,” Bronzin said. “I still need to progress, for example, in kumi kata. But I am satisfied.” Kumi kata refers to the gripping techniques used in judo, a fundamental aspect of the sport.
Other notable results from the Trofeo Italia included fifth-place finishes for Vanessa Finotti (Accademia Muggia) in the under-44 kg category, Mattia Di Giusto in the under-60 kg division, and Ester Rizzardo (Judo Kuroki) in the under-57 kg category. Francesca Marcuccio (Polisportiva Villanova) placed fifth in the under-63 kg weight class, while Gabriel Dean Dulama (Dojo Sacile) and Alice Piccinini (Dojo Sacile) both finished seventh in the under-66 kg and under-48 kg categories, respectively.
Across the continent, at the Junior European Cup in Portimao, Portugal, Rachele Moruzzi (Skorpion Pordenone) faced a tougher challenge in the under-63 kg division. She was unable to find a solution against Spain’s Lucia Trillo Pazos, falling in the preliminary rounds.
Coach Blancuzzi acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the importance of learning from the experience. “Unfortunately, there’s not much to say,” Blancuzzi stated. “We could have done much more. It wasn’t a technical or physical problem that led to this result. It’s important to understand what the real mistake or lack was. In any case, we’re talking about a process, not individual events. So, we’ll be more prepared next time.”
The results from both the Trofeo Italia and the Junior European Cup highlight the growing strength of Italian judo at the youth level. The dedication of the athletes, coaches, and clubs is clearly paying dividends, and the future looks bright for these rising stars.
The next confirmed checkpoint for many of these athletes will be regional qualifying events for the Italian National Championships, scheduled to start in early April. Further details regarding the schedule and locations will be released by the Federazione Italiana Judo Lotta Karate e Arti Marziali (FIJLKAM) in the coming days.
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