Juniores Grand Prix City of Messina

Fantastic silver medal at the international tournament Citta' di Messina for the little samurai Michael Balzana: a second place that ensured him the convocation in the Italian National Team for the Tournament of Paks, that will take place July 15 in Hungary. A great satisfaction that repays all the enormous sacrifices endured to reach this result. The competition took place in Messina Saturday June 16, and it was the last event of the Grand Prix 2012. The best judokas of the 60 kg category have enlivened a sparkling and full of talent category. With two victories, Michael found himself in the final against the Italian champion, the Sicilian Lanzafame, a hard opponent to overcome against which the young Michael already fought at the Italian juniores competition. The meeting was one-way, and with a superb ippon, the Sicilian eliminated the hopes of the little judoka to get to the top. For the occasion, Michael was followed by the champion and 2008 Olympian, Giovanni Nicola Casale, a great and sincere friend of judo master Giulio Famà, who had words of praise for the behavior of Michael, even though in the final he lost some motivation. Only fifth place for the other young judoka of Spello: Lenin Fernando Mosquera has suffered, in the preliminary rounds, a first defeat by Rollo, strong athlete from Rome, which won the gold medal. A defeat that weighed a bit on his performance. At the recoveries, two beautiful victories gave hope to the team, but an ankle injury affected the ability to win in the final for the deserved bronze. The two young athletes of the Judo Kodokan Spello will continue preparing in Furci Siculo for the upcoming events, under the technical direction of the great champion Giannicola Casale, an athlete who has given so much to the Italian judo.