The parade of the big names at the Italian table tennis championships begins, and the shower of medals continues for Sardinian athletes who play in Sardinia. At the PalaPirastu, in Cagliari, the first absolute titles are awarded, with men's, women's and mixed doubles. And Johnny Oyebode wins the mixed doubles title, paired with Gaia Monfardini. Oyebode, son of art, in Cagliari since he completed his fourth month. After the rigmarole, and the triumphs in the Marcozzi youth team, he now plays in Germany and is registered in Italy with TT Sassari. For the Sassari company another podium after the title won in 2022 by Marco Poma with Amato, in the double second category.
Oyebode and Monfardini beat Antonino Amato and Nikoleta Stefanova in the final, practically a challenge in the family. Amato has been playing for Marcozzi for two seasons, Stefanova played for Norbello.
Gold and silver in the mix, but that's not all. Bronze in women's doubles for Veronica Mosconi (Norbello) and Giulia Cavalli, and for Amato and Oyebode paired respectively with Pinto and Piccolin.
MIXED DOUBLE
Stops in the second round Carlo Rossi (another favorite of the house) with Nicole Arlia. Go ahead for Marcozzi Amato and for TT Sassari Oyebode. The level is high, but they are fighting for the title. Amato and Stefanova win the first set, but Oyebode and Monfardini rearrange their ideas and win the next three.
FEMALE DOUBLE
Veronica Mosconi del Norbello reaches the third podium of the championships. After the gold in the second-category doubles, he tries again together with Giulia Cavalli, ex Norbello. But progress stopped in the semifinals against the Italian couple formed by Debora Vivarelli and Giorgia Piccolin, who after last year's second place won the title beating Stefanova and Arlia.
MALE DOUBLE
Oyebode and Amato go down from a podium and go back up shortly after, giving the bronze to their companies, Marcozzi and TT Sassari. Amato and Pinto go ahead by beating Cappuccio and Giovannetti, but are stopped in the semifinal by Rech and Baciocchi. On the other side of the scoreboard, the outgoing champions Oyebode and Jordy Piccolin go ahead, but in the semifinal they give in to the fifth to the brothers Leonardo and Matteo Mutti. Rech and Baciocchi are the new men's doubles absolute champions.
The Italian championships continue with the absolute singles.
Friday the group stage and the elimination round up to the round of 16. Finals on Saturday. The public, which followed the event in these days, will be able to admire the performances of the Italian table tennis aces. The defending champions are Niagol Stojanov and Giorgia Piccolin.