The Italian junior team started off strong Lignanonell’European Cup-Tarcento Trophy which between today and tomorrow brought together 29 nations with 464 athletes. Five Italians reached a final and at the end of this first day the Italian medal table finds the talented Valerio Accogli, winner also last year, in first place in the 66 kg, two second places with Alessio De Luca in the 66 kg and Vincenzo Manferlotti in the 60 kg, Pietro Andreini’s third in the 60 kg. Germany is ahead with two firsts and a second, but on Sunday they will have the entire Italian team breathing down their necks.
“As expected, it was a first day of competition which saw a very high level of quality, especially in the men’s class. -commented Vito Zocco, one of the Italian junior coaches – And it was 4 males who won the only Italian medals with Accogli dominating his category, who got the better of the other Italian De Luca in the final. Similar situation in the 60 kg where Manferlotti at the end of a race conducted with wisdom and tenacity was stopped only in the final by the strong Azeri athlete, while Andreini, after losing the semi-final, managed to stay focused and win a well-deserved bronze. It’s a shame for the missed medal in the 73 kg class where Tavoletta stopped at the foot of the podium at the end of very long and difficult matches. Tomorrow will be a very intense day again and we are always confident that our standard bearers will do well.”
Valerio Accogli, gold in the 66 kg: “I’m really happy with today. I never conceded anything and I was always on track from the start. I am maturing more and more and I have more and more confidence for the next objectives, which are certainly more important. Now we take a break for a day and then we start right back with training camp. I always thank the Carabinieri sports center, my always present family and Banzai Cortina.”.
Alessio De Luca, silver in the 66 kg: “It was a really hard and long race, I met really strong opponents and I’m happy to have come out victorious. I feel like I’ve had enough of the final, but that’s definitely not what’s going to get me down. Now I continue to train because in two weeks another European Cup awaits me in Rijeka, where I aim to reach gold. I thank my family who supports me every day, my parents and brothers, then my gym mates and coaches who help me grow together with the dragons.”
Vincenzo Manferlotti, silver 60 kg: “Today I felt quite confident, they were all encounters of medium difficulty and from the first encounter I felt very good. Today’s result was one of many objectives, even if the medal is not the color hoped for and together with my coaches at Nippon Club Napoli we have much bigger plans. I dedicate this medal to my family, my parents and my sister who make so many sacrifices by supporting me on a daily basis.”
Pietro Andreini, bronze 60 kg: “I’m quite satisfied, because when you put a medal around your neck the day is always positive. The most difficult match today was the bronze final, because I was very tense and I knew I couldn’t afford another misstep after fifth place in Portugal a month ago. There is still a lot of work to do and we start again on Monday, for now I enjoy this medal and I thank Pierangelo, who really followed me today, my father and my mother who always support me, my brothers, Massimiliano Carollo and the dragoons ”.
>>> LIGNANO RESULTS ON SATURDAY
>>> TRAINING CAMP PROGRAM
Thirteen Italians on the podium of the Veterans European Cup Warsaw
Many important medals for Italy a Warsaw with the five first places of Aida Guemati, Ilenia Paoletti, Raimondo Degortes, Luca Spadini and Thomas Tandoi, five second places with Pasquale Iacomino, Fernando Marverti, Fabio Acerbi, Giuliano Invernizzi and Vitalie Ursu and three third places obtained by Andrea Silvello, Daniel Masin and Alessandro Cheli. But there is also fifth place for Moreno Carnevale. Italy, with 21 athletes competing, takes home 13 medals and second place in the general medal table behind Poland, hosts with 51 athletes. In the women’s medal table, however, Italy is first with the two gold medals of the unbeatable Aida Guemati and Ilenia Paoletti. “Our master Italy team – commented Manuela Tadini – is always united and valiant”.
>>> WARSAW RESULTS
2024-04-20 18:03:21
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