Bordighera. The 10th Memorial M. Balladelli took place on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December in Asti, Piedmont. The Judo Club Simonazzi of Bordighera took part in the competition on Saturday, fielding athletes from the Cadet (U18) and Rookie B (U15) categories.
Morning – U18 Cadet Category:
Alessia Calimera took first place with an impeccable performance: all her matches were won before the regulatory deadline, demonstrating great determination and technical superiority.
Francesca Lanzafame, despite facing a higher weight category and a high-level opponent, played an excellent match, but was defeated and unfortunately not recovered.
Francesco Quaglia, after losing the first match, recovered but was unable to reach the final for third place, finishing ninth.
Afternoon – Beginners Category B U15:
Nicole Vicari stopped one step away from the podium: a naive mistake in the final for third place denied her the medal. There remains regret for the few races played, which could have given her greater confidence and experience. Despite the tiredness due to the many kilometers traveled and the intensity of the races, these days were full of lessons and growth opportunities for all the athletes.
Coach Filippo Quaglia declared himself satisfied with the results and the commitment shown by his athletes, confirming that the work done on the tatami is bearing fruit. Now attention is already turned to the next competitions, with the aim of continuing to grow and improve: «Thanks to these guys who, with commitment and dedication, face every challenge on the tatami, carrying forward their passion for judo».
