The dream of climbing onto the top step of the podium was shattered right in the last act, but little Irene Vargiu - after having competed in a top-level Coni Trophy - can still celebrate being the new vice-champion of Italy.
The twelve year old - one of the most promising athletes of the Sarroch boxing academy, chaired by Ottavio Martis - demonstrated all her talent at the national event which took place in Basilicata. Starting from the round of 16, where she got the better of a little girl from the Marche region, Irene overcame a young opponent from Piedmont in the quarter-finals, and then in the semi-final she overcame a boxer from Veneto. Irene only stopped in the final, after a beautiful match played against an opponent from Tuscany.
4 other children from the Academy participated in the expedition to Basilicata: Theo Locci, who after winning the round of 32 ended in the round of 16, and Alessandro Fadda, who was also beaten in the round of 16. The Sardinian representative was also made up of 2 other children from Sassari, who stopped in the round of 16.
The excellent performances of the young boxers who represented Sardinia at the Coni Trophy demonstrate how the youth sector of the Sarroch Academy is now an authentic hotbed of talent. Andrea Casu, one of the technicians of the Sarrochese boxing club, is satisfied with the performance of his students: «4,200 children from all over Italy took part in the event, we are very happy with how our young boxers behaved. The one hit by Irene Vargiu is the 4th Italian medal from the Academy, a club that continues to believe in young talents such as Antonio Vacca, the reigning Italian champion; and Gabriele Massa, bronze medal at the Italian championships: both coming from our youth sector."