Leonardo Valeriani and Irene Pedrotti won the gold medal in PalaPellicone ad Ostiaon the first day of the Rome European Open 2024, an event which sees the participation of 224 athletes from 28 nations.
Leonardo Valeriani he won the 73 kg category by beating the other Italian Luca Rubeca in the final and after the victories obtained over Giorgi Iantbelidze (Geo), Ivo Verhorstert (Ned) and Federico Bosis (Ita), while Irene Pedrotti dominated the 70 kg category thanks to victories over Antonietta Palumbo (Ita), Vera Zemanova (Cze) and, in the final, over the German Giovanna Scoccimarro.
“Irene’s performance was great – said the head coach of the women’s Italy team, Francesco Bruyere– especially the final match with the strong German athlete, confirming the leap in quality made in this four-year period. Winning at home is always beautiful and exciting and for her this is an excellent starting point for the four-year period that has already begun. My compliments go to her and to all the Italian girls who medaled today, I saw a truly excellent level and a lot of determination which gives us hope for the future.”
On this first day of the Roman event, also on the podium were Francesco Sampino, second in the 60 kg, Francesco Cargnelutti, second in the 66 kg, Luca Rubeca, second in the 73 kg and, in third place, Federico Bosis and Luigi Brudetti in the 73 kg, Raffaella Lelia Ciano in the 63 kg, Claudia Sperotti and Antonietta Palumbo in the 70 kg, Betty Vuk in the 78 kg and Alessia Giordano in the +78 kg.
“This first day of competition gave me confirmation of the excellent state of health that Italian judo enjoys – he commented Raffaele Parlatimen’s head coach – the men’s team performed excellently, bringing home 6 medals for which I congratulate Sampino, Cargnelutti, Bosis, Brudetti. Rubeca and to Leonardo Valeriani who, by winning gold in the 73 kg, confirmed the good things he had glimpsed in previous competitions. Double congratulations therefore to Leonardo with the hope that this growth process will lead him to achieve even more prestigious goals”.
Tomorrow is the second day with the lighter female categories and the heavier male categories.
>>> FIRST DAY RESULTS
>>> PHOTOGALLERY
