Italian national Paralympic athletics team takes flight to New Delhi

The Italian Paralympic athletics national team that will participate in the World Championships in New Delhi, India, scheduled from Sept. 27 to Oct. 5, was presented in Rome at the CONI Hall of Honor. Present at the press conference were, among others, CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati, CIP President Marco Giunio De Sanctis, FISPES President Mariano Salvatore and National Team Technical Director Orazio Scarpa, as well as institutional representatives and some of the Italian athletes.

Mornati emphasized the strength of the Italian Paralympic movement, while De Sanctis reiterated the great ambitions of the team, composed of 13 athletes engaged in 23 specialties, and recalled recent international successes in other Paralympic disciplines. Salvatore and Scarpa also highlighted the solidity of the group, which combines established champions and young up-and-comers, and set ambitious goals ahead of 2028.

Among the most anticipated players was captain Assunta Legnante, seeking her sixth world title in the weight and ready to compete in the discus as well. Alongside her is Oney Tapia, gold medalist in the discus at Kobe 2024, who also returns to the platform in the weight. Marco Cicchetti, European record holder in the 100 and 200 T44, will also compete in the long jump. Oxana Corso, making her rainbow debut in the throws, is aiming for confirmation in the weight. Eyes will also be on Carlo Calcagni, world champion and record holder in the 100 and 400 T72: in both distances, he will aim to confirm his leadership.

Looking for redemption will be Maxcel Amo Manu (T64), Ambra Sabatini – ready to return to the top in the 100 T63 and making her world debut in the long – and Riccardo Bagaini in the 400 T47. Also ready to perform well are Ndiaga Dieng in the middle distance, Francesco Loragno in the T64 sprint, Giuliana Chiara Filippi (long and 200 T64), Arjola Dedaj (T11) and Antonella Inga (T12).

Italy arrives in New Delhi with a mix of experience, talent and ambition, on the strength of the 12 medals won at the World Championships in Paris 2023 and the positive results obtained in Kobe 2024. The goal is to confirm its leading role in the international Paralympic scene, with its eyes already on Los Angeles 2028.

The summoned

Assunta Legnante – discus and weight F11
Ambra Sabatini – 100 and long T63
Arjola Dedaj – long T11
Giuliana Chiara Filippi – 200 and long T64
Antonella Inga – long T12
Oxana Corso – weight F35
I love Manu – 100 and 200 T64
Marco Cicchetti – 100, 200 and long T44
Ndiaga Dieng – 800 and 1500 T20
Oney Tapia – discus and weight F11
Francesco Loragno – 100 and 200 T64
Riccardo Bagaini – 400 T47
Carlo Calcagni – 100 and 400 T72