Arecchia (boxing) ends beautifully! YOG medal ranking: Italy is at the 7th place and improves compared to Singapore 2010
Welter boxer from Marcianise Vincenzo Arecchia (boxing) has conquered the gold medal in the 64 kg category after the walk-over by his rival Japanese Toshihiro Suzuki, who had gone in knock-out in the semi-final because of an irregular blow by his opponent, Russian Bibert Tumerov, who was disqualified. The 17-year-old of the Excelsior Boxe, without even the need of wearing his boxing gloves, has brought the Italia Team the 27th medal and the 6th YOG title. In diving the Italian athlete Laura Bilotta instead, in couple with the Armenian athlete Lev Sargsyan, has ended the competition at the 4th place with a total of 346.60 in the final of the international mixed teams. Therefore, the second summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games is ending with a very good outcome for the Italian delegation led by Anna Riccardi. The young Italia has conquered two bronze medals more than in Singapore 2010 - 27 against 25, with the same number of gold (8) and silver medals (10). Without taking into consideration the six podiums obtained in the mixed team per continent competition with 21 medals (7 gold - 8 silver - 6 bronze - tot. 21), CONI mission is at the 7th place in the YOG medal ranking following China, Russia, United States, France, Japan and Ukraine. Out of the 69 athletes constituting the Italian team, 47 competed in a final and four Italian records have been obtained in swimming by Esposito (200 m backstroke), Carini (100 m butterfly stroke), Sabbioni (100 m backstroke) and Quadarella (800 m freestyle). The medals, furthermore, have been won in 12 different sports out of the 21 we took part in: swimming (7), fencing (4), athletics (3), boxing (3), cycling (2), golf (2), gymnastics (1), judo (1), modern pentathlon (1), weightlifting (1), triathlon (1), equestrian sports (1). Finally, the Italian delegation, having in Nanjing the news about the disappearance of Alfredo Martini, not being able to express his mourning with a band on the arm, will ideally wear it during the closure ceremony (tomorrow night at 8 pm local time, 2 pm in Italy), addressing its affection and sympathies to the family of the former cycling head coach.