Member Associations | 21 Mar 2023

Cagliari will host Italian Championships for the first time

Italian Championships will take place this year for the first time in Sardegna and the venue will be PalaPirastu, in Cagliari. Competition starts on Thursday (23 March) with Women's, Men's and mixed doubles, whilst the semi finals and finals are scheduled for Sunday.

The titleholder in singles is Giorgia PICCOLIN (Centro Sportivo Esercito) in Women's category and Niagol STOYANOV (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) in Men's. PICCOLIN won the last four editions (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) and last year in the finals beat Nikoleta STEFANOVA (CIATT Prato), who still holds the record with 11 titles (from 2001 to 2016). The other favourites are Debora VIVARELLI (Centro Sportivo Esercito), Nicole ARLIA and Gaia MONFARDINI (TT Castel Goffredo), Tan WENLING (CIATT Prato), who won in 2008, and Chiara COLANTONI (CIATT Prato).

In the Men's singles STOYANOV won three times (2014, 2018 and 2022), Mihai BOBOCICA (Aeronautica Militare) six times (2007-2009-2011-2012-2013-2017, Leonardo MUTTI (Aeronautica Militare) twice (2015 e 2019) and Marco RECH DALDOSSO (Aeronautica Militare) two times too (2016 and 2021). The others who might reach the podium are Matteo MUTTI (Top Spin Messina), Antonino AMATO (Marcozzi Cagliari), Andrea PUPPO (Apuania Carrara), John OYEBODE (TT Sassari), Daniele PINTO (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre), Jordy PICCOLIN (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre), the finalist in 2022, Carlo ROSSI (Marcozzi Cagliari), Francisco SANCHI (TT Torino).

In the Women's doubles the best pairings are Giorgia PICCOLIN and Debora VIVARELLI, Gaia MONFARDINI and Tan WENLING, the winners of last years, Nicole ARLIA and Nikoleta STEFANOVA and Chiara COLANTONI and Arianna BARANI.

In the Men's doubles John OYEBODE and Jordy PICCOLIN won last year and the other favorites are Matteo MUTTI and Leonardo MUTTI, Marco RECH DALDOSSO and Alessandro BACIOCCHI, Francisco SANCHI and Carlo ROSSI and Antonino AMATO and Daniele PINTO.

In the mixed doubles Niagol STOYANOV and Giorgia PICCOLIN will defend the title and the other candidates to win a medal are Jordy PICCOLIN and Debora VIVARELLI, John OYEBODE and Gaia MONFARDINI, Carlo ROSSI and Nicole ARLIA, Leonardo MUTTI and Chiara COLANTIONI, Antonino AMATO and Nikoleta STEFANOVA and Marco RECH DALDOSSO and Le Thi Hong LOAN.