Italian Judo Shines on Day One of Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

Rome, Italy – The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam kicked off today with some impressive performances from the Italian judo team. The first day was filled with excitement, drama, and some inspiring stories.

Giulia Carnà’s Silver Medal: Fun on the Tatami Leads to Success

Giulia Carnà (GS Fiamme Oro) made headlines by winning the silver medal in the Under 57 kg category. The 24-year-old defeated the top seed, Schmitt (GER), in her opening match and then beat Garcia Martin (ESP) and Beurskens (NED) to reach the final.

In the final, she lost to Huh (KOR) on golden score. Despite the loss, Carnà was thrilled with her performance.

“What can I say? If I have to look at today, perhaps silver isn’t enough for me, considering the final and despite the experience of the Korean athlete. Today I fought to have fun, because in this long journey of ups and downs that is judo, I understood that the only thing that matters is having fun on the tatami.” – Giulia Carnà

Carnà dedicated her medal to her younger self and her coach, Fabrizio Fantauzzo. She also thanked those who doubted her, saying this medal was a form of redemption.

Odette Giuffrida’s Bronze Medal: Overcoming Injuries and Doubts

Odette Giuffrida (GS Army) picked up a bronze medal in the Under 52 kg category. She won against Dimitrova (BUL), Fukunaga (JPN), and lost to Ballhaus (GER) in the semis but bounced back to win bronze against Primo (ISR).

“I’m happy. I’m proud of myself because I’m coming from a difficult period… I won’t deny that I wanted the gold but I draw lessons from the lost match.” – Odette Giuffrida

Giuffrida thanked her coach Francesco Bruyere, teammate Maria Centracchio, and God for her success.

Elios Manzi’s Bronze Medal: Consistency Pays Off

Elios Manzi (GS Fiamme Gialle) secured bronze in the Under 66 kg category. He won his first three matches against Izvoreanu (MDA), Matei (ROU), and Nieto Chinarro (ESP) before falling to Khyar (FRA) in the semis. He then won the bronze medal match against Garcia Torne (ESP).

Head Coach Raffaele Toniolo Reflects on a Successful Day

Raffaele Toniolo, the Italian national judo team coach, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance.

“Italy with a bang on this first day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. One silver and two bronzes represent a significant haul… Now let’s look at the races of the next few days.” – Raffaele Toniolo

Did you know?

• Giulia Carnà is the first Italian woman to win a medal in the Under 57 kg category at a Grand Slam.
• Odette Giuffrida is the first Italian woman to win a bronze medal in the Under 52 kg category at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam since 2017.
• Elios Manzi is the first Italian man to win a bronze medal in the Under 66 kg category at this event since 2018.

Looking Ahead

With these impressive performances, Italian judo is primed for a successful Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. The Italian team will be looking to build on these results in the coming days.

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FAQ

• Q: How old are Giulia Carnà and Odette Giuffrida?

  • A: Giulia Carnà is 24, and Odette Giuffrida is 26.

• Q: What weight categories did they compete in?

  • A: They competed in the Under 57 kg (Giulia Carnà) and Under 52 kg (Odette Giuffrida) categories.