Italian Judo Team Strikes Gold at European Championships in Podgorica
Italy’s judo team has emerged as a force to be reckoned with at the European Championships in Podgorica, securing a silver and two bronze medals on the competition’s second day.Manuel Lombardo led the charge with a hard-fought silver, while Veronica Toniolo and Carlotta Avanzato added to the medal haul with their respective bronze victories.
manuel Lombardo Secures Silver in Thrilling Final
Manuel lombardo, competing in the -73kg category, showcased his dominance early on, securing convincing wins against Filip Jovanovic (Serbia), Igor Wandtke (Germany), and Daniel Szegedi (Hungary). Lombardo advanced to the semi-finals, where he faced Georgia’s Lasha shavdatuashvili. Lombardo executed a decisive sode-tsuri-komi-goshi, earning his place in the final against Russian judoka David Lavrentev. The final match was intense from the start, with both athletes vying for control. Ultimately, Lavrentev was able to immobilize Lombardo with just under a minute left, costing Lombardo the gold.
Avanzato and Toniolo Claim Bronze
While details of Avanzato and Toniolo’s individual matches weren’t provided, their bronze medal performances contribute to Italy’s overall success in the tournament.
Italian Judokas Shine at European Championships,Secure Three Bronze Medals
Italy’s judo team enjoyed a triumphant outing at the european Championships,securing three bronze medals. Veronica Toniolo (-57kg) and Carlotta Avanzato (-63kg) both clinched third-place finishes in their respective weight categories, while Angelo Pantano also earned a bronze in the -60kg division. These medals mark significant achievements for the athletes,especially Avanzato,who was making her debut at a senior European Championship.
Toniolo Battles to Bronze in -57kg Category
Veronica Toniolo, seeded sixth, navigated a challenging path to her bronze medal in the -57kg category.After securing victories against Lea Wyss (Liechtenstein) and Kitti Kovacs (Hungary), Toniolo faced Germany’s Seija Ballhaus in a tightly contested quarter-final. Despite scoring a yuko, three penalties prevented her from advancing to the semi-final.in the repechage,she defeated Irina Zueva (russia) with a decisive sasae-tsurikomi-ashi. The bronze medal match against Timna Nelson Levy (Israel) was a grueling affair, extending into golden score. After nine minutes of intense competition, Toniolo prevailed, securing her first-ever medal at a senior European Championship. Toniolo acknowledged the importance of recent training adjustments and the support of her coach, Nicolas Mungai, highlighting the long-term vision and the significant value of this achievement.
Avanzato’s Debut European appearance Ends in bronze Glory in -63kg
Carlotta Avanzato, an underdog in the -63kg category, delivered a stunning performance to claim bronze. She began by defeating Katarina Kristo (Croatia), the tournament’s number four seed, followed by a win against Natalia Kropska (poland).Against Iva Oberan (Croatia), avanzato executed a seoi nage reverse, a recently reinstated technique, to score a yuko and advance to the semi-finals, where she lost by ippon to Renata Zachova (Czech Republic) during golden score. In the bronze medal match against Lubjana Piovesana (Austria), Avanzato secured a yuko early in golden score, propelling her onto the podium in her first senior european Championship appearance. Avanzato expressed overwhelming emotion following her victory, reflecting on her dedicated approach to competition.
Pantano Claims Bronze in -60kg Division
Angelo Pantano secured a bronze medal in the -60kg category.In the final, Pantano faced Lavrentev. Prior to that bout, Pantano had defeated artak Torosyan (Armenia) and Jano Ruebo (Germany). Giovanni esposito who was seeded 8th lost in the quarter finals against Lavrentev and finished seventh overall after losing to Joan-Benjamin Gaba in the repechage.
Italian Judoka Alice Bellandi Clinches European Championship Gold
ZAGREB, Croatia – Alice Bellandi secured the gold medal in the -78kg category at the European Judo championships.Bellandi expressed immense satisfaction after the victory, emphasizing the rigorous training and dedication that led to her triumph. The competition also saw Italian Olympian Savita Russo’s early exit.
Bellandi’s Hard Work Pays Off
Bellandi stated after the competition,”I believed… I worked so hard to get here, putting my heart and soul into it every day, and finally the hard work paid off.” She further added, “I am satisfied with my performance and how I faced all my opponents today. From tomorrow, we start working again as always with head and heart on the tatami.”
Russo’s early Exit
While bellandi celebrated gold, the same category presented a setback for Italian Olympian Savita Russo, who was defeated in the first round by France’s Clarisse Agbegnenou, who ultimately took silver.
Q: How did the Italian team prepare specifically for the challenges posed by their opponents at the European Championships?
Italian Judo Team’s European Championship Triumph: A Q&A
Italy’s judo team demonstrated exceptional skill and determination at the European Championships,securing a gold,a silver,and multiple bronze medals. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights and frequently asked questions.
Q&A: Unpacking the Italian Judo Success
Q: Who won the Gold Medal for Italy?
A: Alice Bellandi secured the gold medal in the -78kg category, marking a meaningful victory for Italy.
Q: Who won the Silver Medal?
A: Manuel Lombardo achieved a silver medal in the -73kg category after a hard-fought final.
Q: Who won the Bronze medals?
A: Veronica Toniolo (-57kg), carlotta Avanzato (-63kg), and Angelo Pantano (-60kg) all secured bronze medals for Italy.
Q: What was significant about Carlotta Avanzato’s bronze medal?
A: Avanzato’s bronze was especially noteworthy as it was her debut at a senior European Championship. She also used a recently reinstated technique,seoi nage reverse,to advance.
Q: What happened to Savita Russo?
A: Italian Olympian Savita Russo was defeated in the first round by Clarisse Agbegnenou.
Q: What were some of the key techniques used by the Italian judokas?
A: Sode-tsuri-komi-goshi, sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, and seoi nage reverse were some of the key techniques used by the Italian judokas during the tournament.
Q: What did Alice Bellandi say after her victory?
A: Bellandi expressed immense satisfaction, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that led to her triumph, stating, “I worked so hard to get here, putting my heart and soul into it every day, and finally the hard work paid off.”
Q: What is the Repechage?
A: The repechage is a second-chance bracket where judokas who lost to the finalists get another chance to win a bronze medal.
Actionable Advice: Consider watching judo matches to familiarize yourself with the techniques and strategies.
Trivia: Judo matches can extend into “golden score” where the first judoka to score wins.
Italy’s judo team’s performance at the European championships showcased their dedication and skill. The athletes’ success inspires aspiring judokas everywhere.
