Ostia, 10 November 2024 – It was a splendid and last day for the Italy of Judo at the PalaPellicone in Ostia Lido. The Azzurri reached the podium at Rome European Open and they got four medals.
Gennaro Pirelli he put gold around his neck in the 100 kg. He did the same Kenny Komi Bedel who climbed to the top step in the 90kg. Also Henry Owusu Asare Owusu in the 100 kg ed Ilaria Finestrone in the 52 kg they dominated their category and won the tournament. Four exceptional golds then, which join the six bronze medals obtained by Tiziano Falcone nei 90kg, Enrico Bergamelli 100kg, Sofia Mazzola ed ElenaGuards 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. – commented Francesco Bruyere, national women’s head coach, as reported by fijlkam.it – 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 Italian men’s head coach, Raffaele Parlati, as fijlkam.it continues – 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”.
There are 22 medals won by Italy in total and it is the first time in a Continental Open competition. It’s an extraordinary record.
“What can I say? Medium high male level –commented Fabio Basile, protagonist of a long EJU interview given to Szandra Szogedi yesterday, as reported by fijlkam.it– especially in the 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!”.
As fijlkam.it reports ‘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.’
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