The group photo of the 71 athletes from South Tyrol.

Italian Championships in Chiari: South Tyrol impresses

From October 23 to 26, 2025, the elite of Italian badminton met in Chiari (Brescia) for the “Campionati Italiani Junior e Under”.

27 October 2025

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For four days, the sports hall was transformed into a hub of energy, emotion, and sporting passion. Among the participants were 71 players from five South Tyrolean clubs: SSV Brixen, ASV Badminton Überetsch, ASV Mals, SC Meran, and SSV Bozen.

Emotions, excitement, and team spirit: Italy's 32 best young players from the U13 to U19 categories competed against each other. Many already knew each other from previous encounters, while others faced each other for the first time – after all, badminton is played throughout Italy, from the Alps to Sicily and Sardinia.

For the youngest participants in the U13 category, simply stepping onto the court was an unforgettable moment. Accompanied by umpires and linesmen who drew for the court and the service, they experienced what it means to compete in a national championship: precision, discipline, and complete concentration.

From the very first call, the hall was filled with excitement. Drums, trumpets, rhythmic clapping, and loud cheers echoed through the room. The atmosphere was captivating, and in the decisive third sets, many a hand trembled slightly before the shuttle flew back into play. But it's precisely this mixture of excitement, fairness, and joy that defines badminton.

South Tyrol continues to write badminton history

South Tyrol looks back on a long and successful badminton tradition – and this chapter continued in Chiari. Our young athletes competed with great commitment and passion, achieving outstanding placings. A total of 43 podium finishes went to South Tyrol, including 13 Italian championship titles in various age categories – impressive proof of the strength and breadth of South Tyrolean badminton. In addition, ASV Mals was named Italy's best youth club, and ASV Überetsch took second place – another impressive demonstration of the importance of youth development in South Tyrol.

Franzi Hellrigl in action.

The best South Tyrolean player at the Italian Championships comes from Taufers im Münstertal and trains at ASV Mals: Franzi Hellrigl won all three possible titles in her U15 category – singles, doubles with Mara Stricker, and mixed doubles with Milanese Dominique De Leon. This made her the best South Tyrolean player – she was the only one to achieve the hat trick, although some players narrowly missed the hat trick (with two titles).

The results of the South Tyrolean clubs

Women's Singles U19: Italian Champion Anna Hell, Badminton Überetsch 3rd/4th place Sofia Galimberti, Badminton Überetsch 3rd/4th place Lena Kobler, ASV Mals

Women's singles U17: Vice Italian champion Pia Kopania, ASV Mals

Women's singles U15: Italian champion Franzi Hellrigl, ASV Mals

Vice Italian Champion Mara Stricker, ASV Mals 3rd/4th place Lea Gitterle, ASV Mals

Women's singles U13: Italian champion Lina Gögele, ASV Mals Vice Italian champion Valentina Burgo, ASV Mals

Men's singles U19: 3rd/4th place Ruben Fellin, SSV Bozen

Men's Singles U17: Vice Italian Champion Sebastian Tataru, ASV Mals 3rd/4th place Francesco De Stefani, ASV Mals

Men's singles U15: 3rd/4th place Gabriel Colombo, SSV Bozen

Men's singles U13: Italian champion Florian Wieser, SSV Bozen Vice Italian champion Gabriel Tragust Atz, Badminton Überetsch

Mixed U19: Italian champion Sofia Galimberti (Badminton Überetsch) with Ruben Fellin (SSV Bozen) 3rd/4th place Anna Hell with Tobias Andergassen (Badminton Überetsch)

Mixed U17: Italian champion Pia Kopania (ASV Mals) with Alessio Catalfamo (GS Fiamme Doro) Vice Italian champion Nadia Malleier with Felix Tragust Atz (Badminton Überetsch) 3rd/4th place Eva Maria Zangerle with Anton Gurschler (ASV Mals)

Mixed U15: Italian champion Franzi Hellrigl (ASV Mals) with Jan Dominique De Leon (ASD Junior BC Milano) Vice Italian champion Lea Gitterle (ASV Mals) with Mattia Cattaneo (ASD BCC Lecce)

Mixed U13: 3rd/4th place: Lina Gögele with Leonhard Heinisch (ASV Mals) 3rd/4th place: Valentina Burgo with Finn Unterberger (ASV Mals)

Women's doubles U19: Italian champions Anna Hell with Sofia Galimberti (Badminton Überetsch) 3rd/4th. Maria Lara De March with Julia Reinalter (ASV Mals) 3rd/4th place Lena Kobler with Eya Dhahri (ASV Mals)

Women's doubles U17: Italian champions Pia Kopania with Margherita Tognetti (ASV Mals) Vice Italian champions Nadia Malleier with Merrysa Nahdawi (Badminton Überetsch) 3rd/4th. Place Linda Grasso (SSV Bozen) with Giuliana Indelicato (ASD Polisportiva le Saette)

Women's doubles U15: Italian champions Franzi Hellrigl with Mara Stricker (ASV Mals) Vice Italian champions Lisa Tschimben (Badminton Überetsch) with Laura Grillo (SSV Bozen)

Women's doubles U13: Italian champions Lina Gögele with Valentina Burgo (ASV Mals)

3rd/4th place: Rebekka Erlacher with Sarah Giuliani (Badminton Überetsch) 3rd/4th place: Theresa Renner (ASV Mals) with Elena Calabrò (ASD Paterno Badminton Club)

Men's doubles U19: Vice Italian champion Ruben Fellin (SSV Bozen) with Tobias Andergassen (Badminton Überetsch) 3rd/4th place Karl Ladurner (SC Meran) with Marco Polito (Padova Badminton)

Men's doubles U17: Italian champion Sebastian Tataru (ASV Mals) with Alessio Catalfamo (GS Fiamme Doro) Vice Italian champion Felix Tragust Atz (Badminton Überetsch) with Francesco De Stefani (ASV Mals) 3rd/4th place Anton Gurschler with Adrian Telfser (ASV Mals)

Men's doubles U15: 3rd/4th place Matthias Gozzi with Philipp Kubicek (SSV Bozen)

Men's doubles U13: Italian champion Gabriel Tragust Atz (Badminton Überetsch) with Florian Wieser (SSV Bozen) 3rd/4th place Mattia Ceol with Finn Unterberger (ASV Mals)