It’s still great Italy at Rome European Openafter the twelve medals won yesterday on the first day of competition, the Italian judoka put on a show again today, bringing home another ten podiums and allowing our nation to reach first place in the medal table.
Among the protagonists of the day there is undoubtedly the man from Pordenone Kenny Komi Bedel (Fiamme Oro) who, upon returning to competitions after two tough injuries and just as many surgeries to fix them, deserved the gold in the 90kg category. His journey is truly exciting and one of its highest moments was the victory, in the preliminary rounds, against the 2023 world champion, the Georgian Maisuradze.
“It truly was a perfect day for me! Coming back from a long injury and into a new weight class and there couldn’t have been a better day. The race was long and demanding, with all high-level opponents but I managed to manage it optimally while maintaining calm and tranquility at every opportunity. I am very confident in the work I am doing and know that the best is yet to come. I want to thank my family, the gold flames, Nippon Napoli, the whole Parlati family and all the friends who came to support me and even those who do so from afar.”
But on this second magical day he also won Gennaro Pirelli who, after having “tasted” Riner in Paris, proposed himself in the +100 kg category, Henry Owusu Asare Owusu in the 100 kg ed Ilaria Finestrone in the 52 kg. Then there are also six bronze medals, which went to the neck of Tiziano Falcone nei 90kg, Enrico Bergamelli 100kg, Sofia Mazzola ed Elena Guarducci nei 48 kg, Alessandra Rocco e Micaela Sciacovelli nei 52 kg.
“Even today a great Italy, many Italian podiums which confirm the excellent work being done in Italian clubs. -he commented Francesco Bruyerenational women’s head coach- Congratulations to all the girls who medaled, to their coaches, thanks in particular to Ilaria Finestrone for obtaining the gold medal which made our anthem echo in the arena”.
“Excellent day for the competing Italian athletes who won two bronzes with Falcone and Bergamelli and three golds with Bedel, Owusu and Pirelli. – is the comment of the blue men’s head coach, Raffaele Parlati– It should be highlighted that Bedel, Pirelli and Owusu fought for the first time in a new weight category and managed to climb to the top step of the podium. I would like to congratulate all the medalists and to remember that even today Italy has established itself as an excellence of judo at an international level”.
It was the first time, in fact, that Italy collected so many medals in a Continental Open: twenty-two! And it is also a record for the history of the good old City of Rome Trophy, which over the decades was transformed first into a World Cup and then into a Continental Open.
“What can I say? Averagely high male level -he commented Fabio Basileprotagonist yesterday of a long EJU interview given to Szandra Szogedi- especially in 90 kg, I saw the return of Kenny Bedel, impressive. I am proud for him and he is an example for many athletes, after two operations he returned with an objectively perfect competition. Then I saw a great Genny Pirelli who, after the Olympics which went badly, got back up and returned to fighting quickly and today he demonstrated that he is a true warrior. And the tattoo on his chest is right, it’s a lion. I really liked the 73kg final between Valeriani and Luca Rubeca. Valeriani is in a truly “first” period, of great judo and Luca Rubeca who, once again, proves himself to be one of the strongest 73 kg in Italy. I find it really strange that he isn’t a professional yet, I can’t conceive of this and probably if one day he wins an Olympics he will probably join a sports group. Perfect organization on the part of European Judo, I saw an organization made to perfection. This is what I saw in these two days of competition and good luck for Los Angeles to all the athletes!”.
A special moment was reserved for the Norwegian referee Thom Hallum, applauded for a career that began 10 years ago in Rome and with the last match today, again in Rome.
>>> SECOND DAY RESULTS
Italy comes up short in the Gyor Cadet European Cup
Nothing to do, however, for the 5 Azzurri involved in these days at the Gyor Cadet European Cup: Antonio Daloia (60), Steven Peluso (81) Antonio Capezzuto (81), Giorgia Frosoni (57) Lucrezia Zedda (57), were in fact unable to get through the preliminary rounds.
