Italy dominates World Military Indoor Cup
As expected, Italy dominated the proceedings in the 1st edition of the World Military Indoor Cup, getting away with four gold medals in a total of 12 events contested, event though its biggest stars Claudio Licciardello and Elisa Cusma-Piccione did not finally go to Athens.
The Italian sprinters made a clean sweep in the men's 60m, spear-headed by Fabio Cerruti with 6.64 and a surprising 2nd place by Roberto Donati with 6.66, just ahead of Torino bronze medallist Emanuel di Gregorio with 6.67.
They were later imitated in the women's event by the duo of Anita Pistone and Maria Aurora Salvagno, 7.34 and 7.36 respectively. The other two Italian victories were achieved by Filippo Campioli, who won the high jump on count-back from Belarussian Artsiom Zaitsau, as both men cleared 2.24, and by pole vaulter Giorgio Piantella, who equalled his sb with 5.50 m.
After his outdoor victory two years ago, Slovenian Mirolsav Vodovnik won the indoor military title, too, with a splendid season's best of 19.85, without being seriously challenged by his opponents.
Another Slovenian athlete, Sonja Roman, recorded a season's best while winning comfortably the 800m with 2:04.27.
Stanislavs Olijar showed a late-season form, cruising easily to victory in the 60m hurdles in a season's best of 7.65.
Piotr Klimczak from Poland won first the 400m in a modest 48.03 and later anchored the 4x400m relay, closing bravely a 20m lead of Algerian Larbi Laroui to clinch gold with 3:14.18.
The only non-European gold medals belong to Algerian Samir Khedar, who edged past Qatari Ali Aboubaker Kamal in the 800m, 1:49.13 to 1:49.21, and to Essa Ismail Rashed from Qatar, who made a mostly solo run, finishing in 7:54.70, with his compatriot James Kwalia a distand fourth (8:12.62).
The much anticipated clash between Hrisopiyi Devetzi and Marija Šestak in the long jump never happened, as both athletes decided to not compete and the event was cancelled.
In all, 16 countries were eventually represented, among them Albania, Bangladesh and Mauritania! As at now, it has not yet been decided when and where the 2nd edition of the World Military Indoor Cup will take place.
Source: EME News
