Prato volleyball player Alberto Caselli and the national deaf volleyball team are looking for poker, or the fourth consecutive medal in international competitions. There can be no better opportunity than the World Cup which from 20 June will see the Azzurri playing in Okinawa, Japan. There are eight contenders for the title, won by Russia four years ago. In Italy’s group, India is the opponent for the first time (match scheduled for Friday 21st), before facing the United States and Turkey on 23rd and 24th June respectively. In the other group, the favorite is Ukraine with the unknowns of Iran and France, as well as the Japanese hosts. After the group stage there will be the quarter-finals on June 27th, the semi-finals on the 29th and the grand final on the 30th. In addition to Caselli from Prato (free skater), three other Tuscans will be part of the expedition to Japan: the athlete Lorenzo Verdecchia from Migliarino, the Livorno Teodoro Fischietto (second coach) and the scout Giacomo Finisini from Santa Croce. The team led by coach Matteo Zamponi has justified ambitions of confirming itself at least among the top four in the world, and then aiming decisively to improve on the three bronze medals won at the Olympics (Brazil), World Championships (Italy) and Europeans (Turkey). For Caselli, returning from the season at Vintage Volleyball, the year ended with a bang, and then he focused his attention on the next goal of 2025 and being called up for the November Olympics which will again be held in Japan but this time in Tokyo.
