Newcomers shine at Italy’s Indoor Nationals

Italian athletes gathered in Ancona on Friday and Saturday (22 and 23 January) for the National Para Athletics Indoor Championships and the Coppa Italia Throws competition.

One hundred and fifteen Para athletes representing 35 associations took part in both events. 

It was their first competition in 2021 as preparation for the European Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland in May and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in August goes ahead.

Here is a closer look at the action.

Newcomers

Ambra Sabatini is a young T63 sprinter who took on Para athletics last year. In only her second national competition, she beat two-time Paralympic champion Martina Caironi, and Rio 2016 Paralympics and Dubai 2019 Worlds medallist Monica Contrafatto to win the 60m indoor in Ancona.

“I am very happy. My goal was to do better than in the outdoor season and I succeeded,” said the 18-year-old who will be in action at the first World Para Athletics Grand Prix of the season in Dubai, UAE in February.

Sabatini was a promising able-bodied athletics runner who lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident 18 months ago.

The men’s T63 class also saw a newcomer take gold, with Alessandro Ossala. Ndiaga Dieng won the men’s 1500m T20.

Paralympic and European medallists

There were more major championships medallists in action in Ancona.

London 2012 Paralympic Games bronze medallist Annalisa Minetti won the women’s 1500m indoor T11. 

Triple medallist at the Berlin 2018 Euros, Simone Manigrasso took gold in the men’s 60m indoor T64. 

Another Berlin 2018 medallist, Ricardo Bagaini dominated the men’s 400m indoor T47.

Outdoors

While there was plenty of track and jump activity indoors, some of the country’s best throwers competed outdoors during the Coppa Italia.

A total of 53 athletes competed in the two-day multi-class event at the Italico Conti Stadium. 

Lorenzo Tonetto (F64) topped the podium in the men’s discus with F20 athlete Alessio Talocci winning the men’s shot put.

Veteran Carmen Acunto (F55) took gold in the women’s discus throw. Nottwil 2019 Junior World Championships medallist Chiara Masia (F20) won the women’s shot put.