<a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/03/judo-five-athletes-from-the-ronin-gym-in-messina-become-black-belts/" title="Judo, five athletes from the Ronin gym in Messina become black belts”>Furci Siculo‘s Ippon Club confirms itself among the big names in judo at a national level. With the closing of the four-year Olympic period 2021-2024, the gym of brothers Vincenzo and Giannicola Casale – with 147 points – has reached a prestigious 19th place out of almost 700 clubs throughout Italy, based on the ranking released by Fijlkam. A placement that allows the Ippon club to place itself in third place in Sicily and in first place in the entire province of Messina.
Also for the Airon Judo gym also in Furci, led by master Corrado Bongiorno, a very important placing: 53rd place at national level with 69 points. Further confirmation of the traditional vocation of the athletes of the Ionian Riviera towards this honorable discipline.
Not even time to bask in the laurels that hang over the circuit’s races, both senior and junior. Last weekend the Trofeo Italia Puglia Esordienti B took place in Taranto, one of the most important youth competitions on the national calendar.
Niccolò Intelisano, a promising young player from the Ippon Club, won the silver medal in the 81 kg category. With a performance of great character and technique, the judoka originally from Taormina demonstrated that he is among the best in his category at a national level by overcoming the Calabrian Filice, the Lazio players Burdulia and Venditti before losing in the final against the Campanian Savarese. In the same tournament other medals for Airon Judo, with the silver of the combative Santateresina Claudia Ferraro, won in the 48 kg category, and the bronze of Matteo Colloca in the 46 kg category.
On the same weekend, the Casale brothers’ Ippon Club was also busy in Spello (Pg) with the youngest pre-competitors, an important commitment that aims to grow and train new talents from their early years.
The Ippon Club doesn’t stop there. The next commitments will see the company as a protagonist at an international and national level. On 26 and 27 October 2024, the athletes will be present at the European Cadet Cup in Koper, Slovenia, an important showcase that will allow young judokas to compete with the best European judokas. Immediately afterwards, on 2 and 3 November, the club will be involved in the Gran Prix of Policoro (MT), reserved for the cadet and junior categories.
