Youth athletes achieve success in Italian boxing and karate competitions

Young Italian athletes achieved notable success in recent national youth competitions.

In boxing, 12-year-old Simone Contestabile won a bronze medal at the Trofeo CONI 2026 in Puglia. Representing the Abruzzo region, Contestabile advanced through two rounds in the Sparring-IO tournament before falling in the semifinals to the eventual Italian champion. Contestabile, the son of former professional boxer Gianpiero Contestabile, was accompanied by coaches Lorenzo Di Giacomo and Davide Di Meo.

In karate, 8-year-old Manuel Coco of A. S. D. Free Fighter secured first place in the Kata U10 A/R category at the FIJLKAM Gran Premio Giovanissimi held in Patti. The competition also featured Giuseppe Spoto, another young athlete from A. S. D. Free Fighter, who participated in his first Grand Prix experience.