Europeans, Dell’Aquila still on target: bronze in the -58 kg

The blue diamond of taekwondo continues to shine. Vito Dell’Aquila climbs on the podium of -58 kg conquering the bronze at the European Championships in Manchester. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion stopped one step away from the final for the title defeated only at the golden score by the French Cyrian Ravet after a very tight match. A path as a true protagonist that of the 21-year-old from Mesagne who ensured on social media: “The best is yet to come”. For Vito this is the third European medal after the continental title won at home in Bari in 2019 and the bronze in Kazan in 2018.

PATH

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The semifinal seemed to have opened up all in favor of Vito dell’Aquila, leading 1-0 in the first round and 3-2 in the second, but the Frenchman’s change of course has mixed up the cards: Ravet moves first on 6- 4, then on 9-4, finally even on 10-4. But the blue takes back the match by signing a screaming comeback and closing in a draw at 10-10. This is where the golden score begins, which will see the French pass the round thanks to the decisive blow. Previously Vito had beaten the Hungarian Sharif Gergely Salim for 20-8, demonstrating the excellent state of form of Vito which is confirmed among the best in the category.

THE OTHER BLUES

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Nothing to do for Maristella Smiraglia in -73 kg, stopped in the quarterfinals by the English Rebecca McGowan for 13-23. Out of the medals area also the blue captain Roberto Botta who in -87 kg was unable to overcome the second round, beaten by Azerbaijani Milad Beigi for 3-5. Simone Alessio, Simone Crescenzi, Antonio Gerrone, Veronica Pau, Natalia D’Angelo and Antonino Bossolo in Parataekwondo will compete today on the second day of the European Championships.