Funakoshi 1976 twice on the podium at the open international San Marino – Newsbiella.it
Now in its 13th edition, the San Marino Open is a classic for high-level karate: from the very young Under 14s to the Masters, Kumite and Kata specialties, the Trophy organized by FESAM (San Marino Martial Arts Federation – WKF) is an appointment indispensable for all athletes of national interest as it represents an important showcase and a test preparation to test the tactical-technical and physics bench.
Team Funakoshi 1976, well prepared by Maestro Damiano Rovatti, presented 3 athletes in the competition: Carlo Gozzi and Stefano Sasso in the Under 16 class, respectively up to 52 and up to 57 kg., And Christian Spilinga Under 14 up to 40 kg. Carlo Gozzi the first match for Senshu (1st point advantage in case of loss of disadvantage after recovering from a 3-0 disadvantage with a spectacular 3-point football technique (Ippon). In the repechage he easily overcomes the first stages with points 8-0 while in the final for the bronze he manages to snatch the 1-0 victory thanks to the tactical approach developed by Maestro Rovatti. A bronze for the young ITIS student Quintino Sella di Biella, which rewards his commitment and the consistency in training that he maintained even in the long period of lockdown.
Stefano Sasso loses the first match by measure (1-0) and is not rescued: his performance is positive, however, and his latest performances have clearly improved (Italian Championships and Youth League). Christian Spilinga appears among the Under 14 lightweight team and overcomes the first and second rounds with determination a well-structured technical background that can be found in this class. He loses the final in Poule 1-0 after a very tight match, with an uncertain outcome until the end. In the final for the 3rd place he unleashes a tactical masterpiece and wins 4-0 over the athlete of the Fiamme Oro Matteo Vacca.
Maestro Rovatti is very satisfied with the performances of his boys, the result of constant commitment and determination that they lavished hands on even among the ups and downs of the pandemic period, between quarantines and tampons, between face-to-face and online training. Next commitment of the Candelese Team: the Italian Cadet Championships in Ostia Lido next weekend. In the photo at the end of the race, visibly satisfied: Stefano Sasso, Carlo Gozzi, Christian Spilinga and Maestro Damiano Rovatti.
cs Funakoshi 1976 ASD