Italy’s Judo Team Heads to Budapest Grand Slam After Taranto 2026 Success

For the Italian delegation, the Budapest stop serves as the final major international fixture on the calendar before the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, slated for October 4–11. Beyond immediate competition medals, the Hungarian event carries high stakes for athletes chasing qualification points in all 14 weight classes toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games rankings.

Italy has named a 16-athlete roster for the competition, consisting of nine men and seven women.

Italian Roster and Weight Divisions

On the women’s side, the roster includes Giulia Ghiglione in the -48 kg division, alongside Kenya Perna and Olympic medalist Odette Giuffrida at -52 kg. Claudia Sperotti rounds out the women’s team entries in the -78 kg division.

The men’s squad is equally deep, led by Andrea Carlino at -60 kg. Elios Manzi and Matteo Piras both feature in the -66 kg category, while Giovanni Esposito and Federico Bosis contest the -73 kg division. Manuel Parlati takes to the tatami at -81 kg, with Christian Parlati and Kenny Komi Bedel both entered in the -90 kg class. Gennaro Pirelli completes the team selection in the -100 kg division.

Tournament Schedule and Format

According to event organizers, the final block for each of the three competition days is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM local time (UTC+2), determining the podium placements across all weight categories.

Following the conclusion of the Budapest Grand Slam, the Italian squad will shift its focus to final preparations for the upcoming World Championships in Baku. Athletes and coaches will use the Hungarian tatami to test tactical adjustments and evaluate conditioning ahead of the October global showcase.