Ponte San Giovanni’s Sakura Judo wins the national title
Ponte San Giovanni (PG), 12 November 2024 – Sakura Judo of Ponte San Giovanni won the title of the Csen National Championship for the fifth consecutive time, the event organized by the sports promotion body which took place on the weekend of 9 and 10 November 2024 at the Play Hall in Riccione . The victory, which represents the fifth consecutive triumph (after those of 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), consolidated the supremacy of the Perugian team in this important event on the national judo scene.
The edition, the 39th, was a success not only for the record number of participants, with over 1,500 athletes from all over Italy, but also for the high technical level of the competitions, which involved around 150 teams. To confirm the strength of Sakura Judo, the Ponte San Giovanni team closed the event with a total of 360 points, distancing its direct pursuers, Judo Amiatino and Sakura Osimo, in second and third place respectively.
The tournament and competitions
The tournament began with the Youth Grand Prix, reserved for pre-competitive categories, in which Roberto Sabatini’s team finished in fifth place. On the following day, the athletes of the competitive categories were the protagonists, with the Beginners’ competition (Under 13 and Under 15) on Saturday afternoon, which saw Sakura Judo finish with 60 points and an eighth place.
Sunday saw the absolute protagonists in the Cadet (Under 18), Under 23, Senior (Under 35) and Master (Over 35) categories, which allowed the team to obtain 300 points. The sum of the athletes’ performances led to the overall title with a difference of 138 points on the second place, confirming the undisputed dominance of the team.
The medals and the results
The final result of Sakura Judo was extraordinary: 17 gold medals, 9 silver, 16 bronze, as well as 4 fifth and 3 seventh places. A result that confirms the technical level of the team in all categories, from the very young to the most expert athletes, including the Seniors and Masters, both male and female. Furthermore, the commitment of the technicians, many of whom also participated as athletes, contributed to obtaining excellent results, with all the technicians medaling.
The statements of Maestro Roberto Sabatini
Master Roberto Sabatini, who founded Sakura Judo 43 years ago, commented on the success with great satisfaction: “We closed the tournament with an excellent result from every point of view, from the youth categories to the senior athletes. Our group was extraordinary, even those who weren’t in perfect condition gave their all, gaining important points. I want to thank all the athletes, technicians, and our friends from other clubs with whom we collaborate on a daily basis, such as the Judo Club of Foligno, the Judo Club of Città della Pieve, J-Etic and Cus Perugia. It was an unforgettable event, and for the first time we saw parents and children competing together.”
The support of companies and staff
Special thanks were also given to the technical group, who made a fundamental contribution to the success. “The coaches, many of whom chose to fight in the race, also brought home medals, demonstrating the commitment and quality of our staff. A heartfelt thank you also goes to those who participated without being able to express themselves at their best, but who still gave their contribution to the team,” added Sabatini.
Even the president Daniele Calzoni, together with the managers Roberto and Gianni Mastriforti, Antonio and Andrea Liotta, Federico Sabatini, Michele Baldassarri and Luciano Todini, expressed great satisfaction with the result, which not only confirms the excellence of the company, but brings another prestigious title to the municipality of Perugia.
The protagonists of the company
The Sakura Judo members who won the medals were as follows:
First place:
Michele Baldassarri
Lorenzo Bruni
Francesco Brunori
Federica Fioriti
Federica Faraone
Letizia Mencarelli
Giovanni Garofalo
Francesca Sabatini
Edoardo Mastriforti
Ilario Mancini
Fabio Persichetti
Shamil Khamitov
Serena Filegi
Roberta Schiavina
Samira Convito
Giulia Ceccaroni
Leonardo Bordini
Second place:
Samuele Vitali
Anita Alunni
Matteo Alunni
Alessandro Davoli
Diliane Ercolani Barbosa
Sabrina Sardano
Dante Ceccaroni
Letizia Ceci
Vittorio Massimilla
Third place:
Daniele Calzoni
Federico Sabatini
Eduardo Picciolini
Giacomo Borgioni
Andrea Cruciani
Davide Formiconi
Chiara Persichini
Tommaso Marchesi
Giulia Barbieri
Gloria Fiordelmondo
Michela Capezzali
Alessio Castellari
Noemi Poponesi
Natalia Branchini
Camilla Giovi
Hicham Namiq
Fifth and seventh places:
Maddalena Cocco
Chiara d’Antonio
Yeva Bila
Serena Poli
Ana Lara Ercolani Texeira
Thomas Maglio
Manuel Palermo
Other participants:
Matteo de Fazio
Luca Simone
Luca Panciroli
Natan Zdwitowiecki
Alessio Prota
Giulio Pierandrei
With this extraordinary victory, Sakura Judo of Ponte San Giovanni once again demonstrates its value, not only as a point of reference for judo in Umbria, but as an example of sporting excellence at a national level.
The feat represents a new chapter in the history of the company, which, thanks to a united and highly motivated group, continues to achieve successes and bring prestige to Perugian judo.
