Jesolo has become the nerve center of world karate with the start of the World Youth Championships, which see the participation of 1.995 athletes from 113 nations. For Italy, the anticipation is great: sixteen years after hosting the European Championships, the country once again welcomes a major competition, with 14 Italians ready to compete for medals.
Among the protagonists, Matteo Avanzini stands out, who, in the U84 kumite +21 kg category, won the final for gold, which will be held on Sunday. Avanzini, senior continental vice-champion, impressed with his determination, winning hard-fought matches and qualifying for the final against Bosnian Anes Bostandzic. Five other Italian athletes are in the running for bronze in kumite: among them, Anna Pia Desiderio, Raffaele Astarita, Asia Pergolesi and Gabriele Pezzotti, all committed to chasing a prestigious medal.
Also in the U21 kata, Italy is the protagonist with Orsola D'Onofrio, who will challenge the Belgian Chiara Manca for the bronze after an excellent path interrupted by the Spanish Paola Garcia Lozano. In the junior competition, Italy obtained four finals for the gold: Federico Supino, Emanuele Califano, Alvise Toniolo and Ludovica Legittimo will fight for the world title in their respective kumite categories.
For the bronze, Valentina Marrucci and Elisa Cattaneo hope to climb onto the podium. The tournament, in addition to being a sports showcase, stands out for its eco-sustainable approach: from electric mobility to recycled materials, the event demonstrates a concrete commitment to reducing environmental impact, in line with the goals of Agenda 2030.
