Three golds, two silvers and seven bronzes for San Marino at the Small States European Karate Championships, held in Malta from 9 to 11 October. The blue-and-white delegation, made up of 15 athletes, finished fifth in the medal table, behind Cyprus, Malta, Iceland and Montenegro.
Leading the team was Emanuele Magnelli, who won two golds in kumite, in the senior and Under 21 categories, both in the +84 kg division. A double medal also went to Eleonora Gaidella, gold in the Under 21 -50 kg category and silver among the seniors. Silver also went to Leonardo Magnelli in the cadet -63 kg category.
In kumite, two bronzes came from Rebecca Gaidella, in the Under 21 and senior -61 kg categories, and a third place for Michele Callini in the senior -67 kg category.
In kata, bronze medals went to Cristel Battistini, Emma Missiroli, Achille Mariotti and Olivia Valetta. Fifth place instead for Jonathan Gentilini, Luis Enrico Casadei and Denise Bertozzi in their respective categories.
The San Marino squad also achieved two fifth-place finishes in team kumite competitions, among the men’s seniors and the Under 16s.
The athletes were accompanied by technical director Carlo Maurizzi, alongside coaches Mauro Casadei, Emanuel Santolini and Alessio Magnelli.
Federation president Maurizio Mazza expressed satisfaction, highlighting the team’s progress and the growth of the youth sector. The next appointment will be the Under 21 World Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, scheduled for this coming weekend.
