Great Italy at the World Paralympic Table Football Championships
Historic results at the Paralympic Table Football World Cup in Zaragoza: Italy, which was defending champion, beats Belgium and is confirmed on the world team roof. An achievement that gives credit to the intense preparation work done by the boys and members of the Italian Paralympic Football Table Football Federation (FPICB). It was an exciting final that saw Azzurri Daniele Riga and Corrado Montecaggi take on Belgians Michael Smulders and Michaël Vanhoutte. At the end of the match, it was the award-winning Riga-Montecaggi firm that took the gold medal.
A triumph that embellishes a brilliant performance by the entire Italian delegation, which returns home from Spain with a full sack. In fact, if the Riga-Montecaggi duo took the top of the podium, it was Luigi Iannone and Domenico Smario, authors of an equally extraordinary performance, who climbed the third step.
The Italian delegation’s performance was equally extraordinary.
The Italian delegation’s performance was also outstanding.
Not only that: the blue selection, at the end of the games, can boast 4 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals. In short, a success across the board. Italy’s Angelita Alves took victory in the women’s Wheelchair Singles, accompanied by Maria Luigia Civili, who took a prestigious third place. The all-Italian podium, on the other hand, in the men’s Wheelchair Singles: gold medal for Domenico Smario, silver for Francesco Bonanno (as well as president of the Federation) and bronze for Daniele Riga. In the Open Wheelchair Doubles the challenge between Italy and Belgium was staged again with Iannone and Smario ruling Smulders and Vanhoutte. Third were Italians Riga and Montecaggi.
Satisfaction and enthusiasm clearly seeping through the words of Francesco Bonanno, FPICB president: “”With immense pride I would like to share a historic result achieved by our Federation at the World Paralympic Table Football Championships that have just concluded in Zaragoza. Italy triumphed in all Paralympic specialties in the program, taking the top step of the podium in every category. To crown these extraordinary successes, our national team also won the World Cup for Nations, confirming its position at the top of the international movement. These results represent the fruit of hard work, the dedication of our athletes, technicians and volunteers, and the constant commitment we put into promoting Paralympic sport every day. Winning, we all know, is difficult, but confirming ourselves at the top is even more so. I congratulate all the athletes and all members of the expedition for their achievements but also for the dedication and commitment they devote to the sport every day.”
