Great ambitions for our colors: the event kicks off tomorrow, last races on Sunday for 495 athletes from 72 nations
Olbia is ready and is about to announce the hajimè of the 24th edition of the junior world championships with a participation, 495 athletes from 72 nations, which these days is much more than a sign of encouragement and trust. It is the second time that Italy has hosted the highest world event for the junior class since it was introduced in the international program in 1974, but on this occasion the burden is particularly heavy as the protocols (and not only those for Covid) of the international judo federation do not seek perfection, but demand it.
Challenge
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The city of Olbia and the region of Sardinia have accepted the challenge and thanks to the experience gained over the years, but also on the basis of the premises, have consolidated the trust on the part of the international establishment. The blue team, for its part, is rightly ambitious and numerous, being able to take advantage of the bonus of up to four athletes per weight category (instead of the two normally) reserved for the host nation, but among the thirty-three athletes competing there are well ten among the top ten places in the ranking list: Assunta Scutto is number 2 in the 48 kg and seeded n. 1 in Olbia, Sara Lisciani is the n. 3 both in ranking and as seeded, as well as Martina Esposito, who in the 70 kg is n. 4 ranking and seeded. Then there are Veronica Toniolo in 57 kg (fifth), Federica Silveri in 52 kg (sixth), Vincenzo Pelligra (73) and Asya Tavano (+78) seventh, Giulia Carna (52) eighth, Luigi Centracchio (73) ninth, Asia Advanced (48) tenth. The draw, as always, does not look anyone in the face and precisely in the 48 kg, where Assunta Scutto collects the privilege of the number one in the category and goes directly to the second round, in the (desirable) case of victory she could find herself facing her partner. Asia Advanced team, in the equally desirable case that it has overtaken its opponents in turn. “Of course, it can happen – commented a member of the blue staff – and, at this point, we really hope that Scutto and Advanced can meet in the quarters, as well as in the 73 kg, for example, Luigi Centracchio and Vincenzo Pelligra, as they are been drawn, they could meet in the final for the gold “. A wish that, of course, applies to all the Azzurri in the race.
The summoned
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These are the 33 Italian athletes competing.
Convened: Asia Advanced, Assunta Scutto (48), Giulia Carnà, Ylenia Monacò, Federica Silveri (52), Carlotta Advanced, Veronica Toniolo (57), Sara Lisciani, Antonietta Palumbo (63), Cecilia Betemps, Martina Esposito (70), Carolina Mengucci (78), Erica Simonetti, Asya Tavano (+78), Simone Aversa, Giuseppe De Tullio (60), Luigi Centracchio, Vincenzo Pelligra (73), Bright Maddaloni Nosa (81), Daniele Accogli (100).
For team competition: Alessio Galasso (90), Lorenzo Turini (+100).
Authorized: Alexandru Comerzan, Samuel Salvo (66), Leonardo Piccolo (81), Riccardo Bertolini and Alessio Galasso (90), Jean Carletti (100), Lorenzo Rossi and Lorenzo Turini (+100).
Wild card: Francesca Cara (57), Nicolò Cadoni (60), Marco Battino (73), Matteo Virgilio (81), Davide Cossu (90).
The Italian athletes reached the podium in thirteen world championship editions for a total medal of eighteen medals, four gold, five silver, nine bronze. To win the first medal at the junior world championships was Ezio Gamba, silver in the 70 kg in the second edition, Madrid 1976. For the first gold medal it was not until 2013, when Antonio Esposito won the gold of the 73 kg in Ljubljana. In that same edition Odette Giuffrida also got on the podium, third in the 52 kg, but Italy won two medals in the same junior world championship also in 2000 in Nabeul with Roberto Meloni (81) and Paolo Bianchessi (+100), both silver and then it also happened in Marrakech 2019, the last disputed before Olbia, with the bronze medal of Edoardo Mella (73) and Gennaro Pirelli (90). The record edition is undoubtedly that of 2018 in Nassau with the extraordinary golden hat-trick scored by Manuel Lombardo (66), Christian Parlati (81), Alice Bellandi (70). Gold in Nassau for Christian Parlati was the second medal at the junior world championships, having won bronze (81) the previous year in Zagreb. Another blue with two medals at the junior world championship was Domenico Di Guida, who got the bronze in the +100 kg in Paris 2009 and the silver in the 100 kg in Cape Town in 2011.
Wednesday 6 October: -48, -52 kg F / -60, -66 kg M
Thursday October 7: -57, -63 kg F / -73 kg M
Friday 8 October: -70 kg F / -81, -90 kg M
Saturday 9 October: -78, +78 kg F / -100, +100 kg M
Sunday 10 October: Mixed Teams
October 5, 2021 (change October 5, 2021 | 20:27)
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