Mediterranean Games, Brunori bronze in karate: it is the first blue medal

The first blue medal at the Mediterranean Games comes from karate. Veronica Brunori wins the bronze in the -55kg of kumite beating the Kosovar Albulena Gervalla 2-1. A final worthy of her competitive character, rediscovered after the bitter defeat in the quarterfinals against the unleashed Algerian Abouriche who will be playing for gold tonight. “I am very happy because I wanted this medal with all of myself – she says with shortness of breath as soon as she got off the mat -. With the Algerian I dropped attention when I was ahead and it cost me dearly, but I’m happy to be able to mentally balance myself and give everything for the bronze. Am I the first Italian medalist at the Games? I can only be proud of myself and of the country I represent ”. But the Italy of karate already has another guaranteed medal: Luca Maresca will face the final this evening for the -67 kg gold. Expectations are growing, however, for the preliminary rounds that will see the Olympic gold medal Luigi Busà engaged in the -75kg and Alessandra Mangiacapra in the -61kg.

FIRST MEDAL

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Veronica Brunori begins her journey by dominating the Spanish Fernandez for 2-0, to then yield to the Algerian Abouriche for 2-9 and subsequently win the repechage on the Croatian Hasani (2-0) to access the bronze. This is the third final in a row for the 21-year-old from Turin in force at the Fiamme Azzurre: “After the podium conquered in the Premier League in Matosinhos (Portugal) and having narrowly missed the bronze at the European Championships in Ganziatep (Turkey), I am happy to have confirmed myself here in Algeria. For me it is always an honor to fight with the best in the world ”.

THE OTHER BLUES

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Luca Maresca shines like never before on the Algerian tatami, trimming 8 points and conceding only one: 4-1 to the Frenchman Salmi, 4-0 to the Cypriot. In the final, this evening from 19 Italian, he will face the Greek Xenos. Fifth bitter place for Angelo Crescenzo in the 60 kg. The vice world champion, after winning the first match with the Moroccan Ali Jina (4-3), was then defeated by the Algerian Salmi. After the repechage, he then sold the bronze medal to the French Meziane (2-0). Nothing to do for Erminia Perfetto, defeated in the first round by Tunisian Ben Hassen (1-0).