Table tennis, the best of Italy in Cagliari for the Assoluti

It is one of the nine most popular sports in the world. In the past it has also been a useful international diplomatic tool and in Italy it has tens of thousands of practitioners. But the army of amateurs and those who “play a practice match every now and then” is gigantic in size. Elite table tennis lands in Cagliari from 18 to 25 March. Top spin, defense and attack for a spectacular Olympic sport. With the capital hosting for eight days and for the first time the men’s and women’s absolutes, with the singles, doubles and mixed titles of the three categories up for grabs.

At the Tricolori made in Sardinia the top ten seeds will be Mihai Bobocica (Air Force), Matteo Mutti (Top spin Messina), Antonio Amato (Marcozzi Cagliari), Andrea Puppo (Apuania Carrara), Niagol Stoyanov (Fiamme Azzurre), Marco Rech Daldosso (Military Air Force), Leonardo Mutti (Military Air Force), John Oyebode (Sassari Table Tennis), Tommaso Giovannetti (Genoa Table Tennis) and Jordy Piccolin (Blue Flames). Bobocica has six titles to his credit, Stoyanov three, Mutti and Daldosso two each. But the reigning champion, Stefano Tomasi (Milan table tennis sport) is also in the running.

Even among the girls, the table with the best in Italy. The top ten is made up of Tan Wenling (Ciatt Prato), Gaia Monfardini (Castel Goffredo Table Tennis), Wang Xuelan (Marco Polo Table Tennis), Debora Vivarelli (Army), Nicole Arlia (Castel Goffredo Table Tennis), Chiara Colantoni (Ciatt Prato), Arianna Barani (Ciatt Prato), Valentina Roncallo (Muravera table tennis), Giorgia Piccolin (Army) and Nikoleta Stefanova (Ciatt Prato). The latter boasts eleven championships, the last one in 2016. Piccolin (four laurels) is the reigning champion.

Mosconi (2015) and Wenling (2008) also won the title. In doubles, the couples to beat are Oyebode and Jordy Piccolin (Fiamme Azzurre) in the men’s competition, Monfardini and Wenling in the women’s competition. Meanwhile, the mixed championship must be snatched from the Stoyanov-Piccolin duo. In short, the elite of the tricolor discipline will be present at the PalaPirastu in via Rockefeller and at the nearby Coni gyms, with free admission from 6pm. Sardinia, land of sea and quality sports. With five teams in A1 (the boys of Marcozzi Cagliari and Norbello and the girls of Quattro mori Cagliri, Muravera and Norbello), the movement warms up the engines waiting for the big names. The review opens with third category mixed doubles. Friday 24th and Saturday 25th the first category will be on the field.

The event will be streamed live on Fitet’s YouTube channel. “Our region attracts, but it goes beyond the sea and natural beauties. Sport and a phenomenal flywheel: around 500 athletes, technicians, managers and escorts will be in Cagliari for the table tennis championships. A big blow for enthusiasts and for local economies” said the regional councilor for tourism, Gianni Chessa. Affectionate words also from the mayor of Cagliari, Paolo Truzzu (“An honor to host the Assoluti in Sardinia for the first time”), from the national president of Fitet, Renato di Napoli (We are grateful to the Municipality and the Region, very happy to arrive in this splendid land”), by the number one of Coni on the island, Bruno Perra (“Once again we take the center of the sporting scene thanks to the synergy between institutions”). The applause and good luck also came from the President of the Region, Christian Solinas, from the Regional Councilor for Sport, Andrea Biancareddu, from the City Councilor for Sport, Fioremma Landucci and from the President of the Sardinian Table Tennis Federation, Simone Carrucciu: “A phenomenal showcase for a discipline that boasts valuable traditions here”.