Italy's women's volleyball team regained international dominance in Bangkok, twenty-three years after winning in Berlin in 2002. Julio Velasco's team won gold in the World Championships, defeating Daniele Santarelli's Turkey in a hard-fought final that ended in a 3-2 tie-break (25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8). The Italians' unity paid off in the last set, when four consecutive blocks—the latest scored by Sylla (19 points)—shut down the Turks’ push, led by the extraordinary Vargas (33 points). Paola Egonu was Italy's leading scorer with 22 points. With this triumph, the Italian women's team won their 36th consecutive win, the most significant and difficult. Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic, has already invited the squad to the Quirinale Palace to celebrate their historic triumph.