Manuel Di Carlo from Pescara and Michele Balducci from Montesilvano are also European Sanda Champions 2024 [FOTO]

More and more successful, their fame and successes no longer have boundaries. Manuel Di Carlo, 21 years old, and Michele Balducci, 20 years old, are the new Sanda 2024 European Champions. The two boys, the first from Pescara, the second originally from Montesilvano, ranked first in their category in Stockholm, after having also won the World Championship held in Dallas, Texas last November. The Wushu Kungfu Pescara Study Center has seen the growth, both from a human and sporting point of view, of the two boys who, thanks to their commitment and natural talent, have won the most important international titles of a rapidly growing discipline.

“The boys have achieved unthinkable world records which bring prestige to our city and above all to the entire region”. This was said by Osvaldo Taresco, athletic trainer of the two young champions and owner of the Study Center which today boasts over 100 registered boys. “Last November Balducci and Di Carlo had already given us indescribable emotions by winning the first places in the rankings at the world championships in the United States. Our boys – specified Taresco – beat 1500 highly trained athletes from 80 countries, carrying the colors of the Italian flag high. Among other things, Balducci was the first gold medal in the history of the Italian Federation, while Di Carlo fought despite a hand injury. In recent days the two champions repeated the double at the Sanda European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden: Manuel Di Carlo won the gold medal in the -70 kilogram category and was confirmed as European Champion for the second time in a row, therefore in 2022 and 2024; Michele Balducci won the gold medal in the -75 kilogram category. In fact, Pescara confirms itself as the capital of Sanda, and it is a pride to think that our Study Center has managed to train champions who are writing the history of martial arts in the world, a school founded in 1995 after years of study in China, becoming today one of the largest and most respected Martial Arts Schools in Italy, winning many awards particularly in Sanda also thanks to the extraordinary competitive results. Our philosophy is based on the idea that Martial Arts is not just a form of combat, but also a way to develop character and discipline. Our teachings focus on the importance of consistent practice, perseverance and respect for others.”

Over the years, maestro Taresco himself has held various roles in the Italian Wushu Kungfu Federation, the most prestigious was that of technical director of the Italian national team of Sanda. Under his management, over 27 international medals were achieved and he was the promoter and idealizer of competitive circuits such as the Sanda Games and the Sanda Pro League. Over the years, Maestro Taresco has established collaborations and professional relationships with various schools of education as well as with the faculty of motor sciences in Chieti where he held courses for twenty years. The Pescara Wushu Kungfu Study Center has trained hundreds of national champions and several international champions, maintains contacts and collaborations with Chinese and other national martial arts institutes. Today Maestro Taresco’s school is attended by students of all ages and all levels of experience. Master Taresco is active in teaching and spreading martial arts.