Mediterranean games, fencing: 2 silvers and 3 bronzes for Italy

Only the sharp was missing, but the blue fencing continues to shine even after the European Championships in Antalya. From the first day of competitions at the Mediterranean Games in Oran, 5 medals from the saber arrive: 2 silvers and 3 bronzes. All the women of the blue team on the podium. To put the silver around her neck was Chiara Mormile, who after an excellent group stage (4 wins and 1 defeat) dominated the Spanish Lucia Martin Portugues (15-6) and came out the winner of the hard-fought blue derby in the semifinal against Eloisa Passaro (15-12), then bronze. At the last act she is forced to yield to the Algerian Saoussen Dlindah Boudia (7-15), who led the decisive assault to the jubilation of the home crowd. To complete the podium Rebecca Gargano, passed in the semifinals by the Algerian (11-15). Same epilogue for Riccardo Nuccio: seeded number 1, with 5 wins in the group stage, in the quarterfinals he overtook the Egyptian Mohamed Amer (15-6) and then excelled in the semifinals over the Spanish Inaki Bravo Aramburu (15-11). In the final he then sold the gold 15-9 to the Egyptian Ziad Elsissy, who previously had also defeated Dario Cavaliere (15-9), bronze.

Aspromonte

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Accompanying the blue expedition to Algeria was also Valerio Aspromonte, on his first departure as head of the delegation. “Excellent start. Taking home 5 medals on the first day was not obvious. We were very good in the women’s sector, placing all three blue on the podium, even if today we hoped to be able to take at least 1, if not 2 gold. I must say that the Algerian, pushed by the home crowd, had an exceptional race. As for the boys, Nuccio and Cavaliere very well. Too bad for Repetti that he could have done more. However we are very satisfied, we started well and now we want to continue in the same way in the next few days ”. The fencing program includes two more days of sword and foil competition. Italy will present a well-balanced team on the platform: “We have mixed teams with highly experienced guys like Matteo Tagliariol and younger guys like Giacomo Paolini. We hope that this union of forces between experience and lightheartedness will bring excellent results. For sure this competition will also be a test in view of the World Cup in Cairo (15-23 July). We hope it will be a positive path on our journey which will end at the end of July “.

New role

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The team Olympic champion in London 2012 then recounted the excitement of his new role: “I am very happy. I am experiencing the expedition off the platforms, no longer as an athlete, and not even as a technician, but as a sort of organizer and aide to the team. For example, we had some small difficulties as soon as we arrived at the Mediterranean Village, but I must say that I was good at managing them and fixing the situation, so I’m happy. I hope to be able to help the children as much as possible ”.