Cus Siena Judo Athletes Shine at Italian Championships Qualifiers

The qualifications for the Italian second-class championships Under 18 and Under 21 took place in Camaiore, with the Cus Siena Judo team delivering impressive results.

Under 18 Standouts

First to compete were the Under 18 athletes. Guglielmo Sensi (up to 46 kg) dominated his single opponent, scoring two victories before the limit. Alessio Cosentino (up to 55 kg) unfortunately suffered two defeats.

The Under 18 category up to 66 kg saw a competitive field with three Siena judokas – Alvise Gallo, Elia Domenichini and Daniel Khanbekyan – drawn into the same half of the bracket. Alvise Gallo advanced by defeating De Luca and Maioli to reach the semifinals. Elia Domenichini mirrored this success, winning against Baiona and then his teammate, Daniel Khanbekyan, similarly securing a semifinal spot against Gallo.

Khanbekyan initially won against Citi by ippon but was stopped in the quarterfinals by Domenichini. Despite a strong effort in the repechages, a lapse in concentration prevented him from reaching the final. Domenichini ultimately prevailed in the semifinals and faced Cirlan of Judo Grosseto in the final, where he was narrowly defeated by a golden score. Gallo competed for the bronze medal but was defeated by Marseglia.

Adelaide Sassetti (up to 63 kg) also had a successful day, winning three matches with impressive ippons.

Under 21 Results

In the Under 21 competition, Marco De Vito (up to 66 kg) faced challenges returning from a series of injuries and suffered two defeats. Pietro Cresti (up to 73 kg), despite not being in top form, defeated Bandini and Maltinti before facing Malatesta in the semifinals. Cresti suffered two wazaris, the second of which was contested due to a refereeing decision. He then secured the bronze medal by defeating Montali with a joint lock.

Davide Tassi (up to 81 kg) reaffirmed his dominance, winning against Morelli, Hurtado, Cecchi, and Bientinesi. Christian Strogoteanu was unable to compete due to an administrative issue.

Under 15 Participation

A total of 11 Under 15 athletes from Cus Siena Judo participated in the Marino Lorenzoni Memorial, all delivering excellent performances. The athletes included Aurora Frau, Lara Bossini, Niccolò Losi, Gabriele Giacopelli, Matteo Gabbriellini, Alessandro Rustici, Alberto Di Pisello, Riccardo Sestini, Lorenzo Brigazzi, Giulio Frati, and Pietro Cosco.

Radiosienatv.it “Molto soddisfatti al termine delle due giornate i due tecnici Simone Cresti e Giulio Muzzi, tante le indicazioni positive ricevute e altrettanti spunti sui quali continuare a lavorare in palestra.”

Coaches Simone Cresti and Giulio Muzzi expressed their satisfaction with the team’s performance and identified areas for continued development.

Looking Ahead

The Cus Siena Judo team demonstrated significant potential at the qualifiers, setting a positive tone for the upcoming championship season. The dedication and skill of these athletes, combined with the guidance of their coaches, position them for continued success.