Lecco Badminton Masters Fall Just Short of semifinals at Italian Championships
The Badminton & Croquet Club Lecco – Lario MI Auto athletes traveled too Malles in Val Venosta for the Italian Master Championships, aiming to replicate their 2022 success. The team, comprised of denis Passador, Paolo Poletti, Nicola Cattaneo, Piera Tocchetti, chiara Landi, along with borrowed players Francesco Feliziani (Marabadminton) and Christian Diforti (Space Bad), fought valiantly. Despite their best efforts, they narrowly missed qualifying for the semifinals, ultimately finishing in ninth place.
While the team result may have been disappointing, individual achievements shone brightly. Four Lecco athletes were honored as “Best master Athletes of 2024” in their respective categories and specialties. denis Passador dominated, securing three titles: SM 55, DM 55 alongside Flavio Bettoni (CUS BG), and XD 55 with longtime partner Roberta Brenzone. Piera Tocchetti added to the team’s accolades by winning the SF 55 category.Luca Zanchin, the team’s director, reflected on the tournament: “The competition was fierce, with many matches decided by the slimmest of margins.Even though our athletes, including the borrowed players, displayed a high level of skill, it wasn’t quite enough to secure a spot in the main draw for podium contention. We’ll begin preparations for next year’s edition instantly, aiming to build on this experience and achieve even greater success.”
A Close Call in Malles: A Post-Championship Analysis with Italian Badminton Legend, Cristina Perrotto
Welcome back, badminton enthusiasts! This week, we’re diving deep into the recent italian Master Championships held in Malles, where the Lecco Badminton Masters, aiming for a repeat of their 2022 triumph, fell just short of the semifinals, ultimately finishing in ninth place. joining us to dissect this performance and delve into the nuances of the tournament is none other than Italian badminton legend, cristina Perrotto, a three-time national champion and former Olympian.
Cristina, welcome to the show!
Cristina Perrotto: A pleasure to be here. The Italian Championships are always such a thrilling event!
Let’s start with Lecco’s performance. Despite not reaching the semi-finals, their athletes achieved remarkable individual success, with four proudly earning the title of “Best Master Athletes of 2024.” Denis Passador was truly dominant, claiming three titles – an extraordinary feat! How do you evaluate Lecco’s overall performance, considering both the team result and the individual achievements?
Cristina perrotto: It’s a bittersweet outcome. Ninth place isn’t the podium finish they were hoping for, especially after their success last year. But, looking at the bigger picture, those individual titles are a testament to the talent and dedication within the Lecco club.Denis Passador, in particular, is in phenomenal form. Three titles are phenomenal! It shows they have strength in depth.
Luca Zanchin, Lecco’s Director, mentioned that many matches were decided by very narrow margins. This suggests intense competition across the board. Would you agree that the Italian Master Championships are becoming increasingly more competitive?
Cristina Perrotto: Absolutely. The level of badminton in Italy is steadily rising. we’re seeing younger players coming through, pushing against established veterans. This makes every match a nail-biter and elevates the quality of the entire tournament.
Lecco brought in borrowed players Francesco Feliziani and Christian Diforti to bolster their team. Do you think relying on borrowed players is a enduring strategy for a club aiming to consistently perform at the highest level?
Cristina Perrotto: It’s a tricky situation. While bringing in seasoned players can provide an immediate boost, it doesn’t necessarily address the long-term goal of developing a cohesive team with strong chemistry. Clubs might benefit more from investing in their youth programs and nurturing homegrown talent.
We want to hear from you!
Do you think borrowing players is a good strategy? What are yoru thoughts on Lecco’s performance and the future of the Italian badminton scene? Share your opinions in the comments below!
It’s been insightful hearing your perspective, Cristina. I think it safely to say that despite the narrow miss at the semifinals, Lecco has much to be proud of and with experienced players like Passador leading the charge and Luca Zanchin’s vision for the future, the club is certainly one to watch.
Cristina Perrotto: Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing how Lecco bounces back next year!
Stay tuned for more badminton analysis and exclusive interviews right here!
