Open European II Judo Championships (Intellectual Impairment) 2024 - Venray, Netherlands

VENRAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Venray is the host of two pivotal tournament this week, the Open European II Judo Championships 2024 and the last EJU Get Together Tournament of the year. Kickstarting the week with the Open Europeans, the Sporthal de Wetteling Venray will welcome athletes with intellectual impairments under the guidelines of the…

18 November 2024

KUKA: "I'M GLAD JUDO IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PRACTICED BY ANYONE"

Agron KUKA, President of Kosovo Judo and EJU Sport Director, discussed the rise of popularity of judo in Kosovo as well as the expansion of the EJU calendar and the goal of our organisation moving in to the new year. First however, Kuka took the opportunity to mention the most…

18 November 2024

PORTUGUESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HONOURS JUDOKA AT ANNUAL CELEBRATION

The Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) celebrated the best in national sports during the 2024 Olympic year at its prestigious Olympic Celebration Gala, hosted at the SUD Hall Lisboa. The evening highlighted exceptional achievements, with three judoka, Patrícia SAMPAIO, Taís PINA, Telma MONTEIRO, as well as coach, Marco MORAIS, receiving distinguished…

17 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

COMPLETING THE TERM IN STYLE

It is a bittersweet conclusion to the weekend of the 2024 U23 European Championships in Pila, Poland, as we say goodbye to a wonderful host city, as well as President Jacek ZAWADKA. Though Zawadka holds a position in the European Judo Union, and he will be still be on the…

17 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

GEORGIA REINSTATE THEIR CHAMPION STATUS

Since the establishment of the Mixed Team event for the U23 European Championships in 2021, Georgia have yet to miss out on a podium place. In incredible fashion, they claimed the first title in 2021 when hosted in Hungary, but in 2022 and 2023 were forced to settle for bronze.…

17 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 (Ind.+MT) 2025 - Chisinau, Moldova

WE'RE HEADING TO MOLDOVA!

Closing out the U23 European Judo Championships in Pila, Poland, the flag handover took place, and after a sensational event over the weekend, we can already look forward to next years edition which will be held in Chisinau, Moldova. Accepting the flag on behalf of Moldovan Judo was President, Andrei…

17 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

GEORGIA GO FOR A SECOND TITLE

Though there was a great deal of support for the Mixed Team event of the U23 European Championships 2024, it was an early exit for the host nation, Poland, defeated by a strong team from Azerbaijan including European Champions, Grand Slam and Junior World medallists, who were then sent to…

17 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

THE SILENCER

It was the perfect way to start the final block of U23 European Championships 2024. The -81kg men were first up and an exciting contest looked to be unfolding between Kote KAPANADZE (GEO) and Bright MADDALONI NOSA (ITA), with some strong kumi kata. However it was more controlled for Kapanadze…

16 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

HIGH HOPES FOR TEAM POLAND

On the second, and final day of individual competing in the U23 European Championships 2024, we saw the remaining weight categories battling it out for the seven titles. In the -81kg category, Kote KAPANADZE (GEO) was first to take his place in the final, demonstrating some stunning ashi waza skills,…

16 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

For Tara BABULFATH of Sweden, 2024 has been a wild ride. Claiming her first Grand Slam, Grand Prix, Senior World Championships medals, and then the cherry on the cake, an Olympic bronze medal. It was a fairytale experience unlike no other, however it could have all come crashing down. It…

16 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

NE WAZA FOR THE WIN

Opening day one of the U23 European Championships were the -48kg women. Current Olympic bronze medallist, Tara BABULFATH (SWE) battled it out against Giulia GHIGLIONE (ITA) for the U23 title, after already enduring a 10 minute contest in the semi final with Ghiglione’s team mate and eventual bronze medallist, Asia…

15 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

BIG DAY FOR BIG JUDO

For most, the pick of the day in the -48kg was Tara BABULFATH (SWE). Already having transitioned on to the senior circuit and claiming IJF World Tour medals, the 18 year old went on to claim an Olympic bronze in Paris this year. However her return to the tatami after…

15 November 2024

Open European II Judo Championships (Intellectual Impairment) 2024 - Venray, Netherlands

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE: DISABILITY TO ABILITY

Though we are in the midst of the U23 European Championships in Pila, Poland, we are also looking forward to a brand new prime event in the European Judo Union calendar, the European Championships for Intellectually Impaired. Next week in Venray, where the Get Together events began for adapted judoka,…

15 November 2024

Riga European Judo Hopes Cup & Technical Session Kodokan Experts - Riga, Latvia

HOPES ROUND OUT THE YEAR IN RIGA

The European Judo Hopes Cup and Technical Session with Kodokan Experts is concluding the year of 2024 in Riga. Over the past months, this has been an incredible addition to the EJU Calendar, giving unrivalled opportunity to young athletes from around Europe. The Kodokan expert invited to this event is…

15 November 2024

EJU Ordinary Congress - Budapest, Hungary

CONCENTRATED EXPERTISE

The countdown to the 76th EJU Congress in Budapest on 23 November is entering the hot phase. The conference venue is the Hilton Castle Hotel in the Buda district. Almost 200 guests from 47 nations have registered so far. EJU President László Tóth (HUN) is the only candidate standing for…

14 November 2024

European Judo Championships U23 2024 - Pila, Poland

PIŁA CALLS TO THE U23 CONTENDERS

The European Judo Union are the only continental union to host this particular level of event. The purpose of cadet, junior and now the ‘Hopes’ events, is for the development of athletes in Europe. We are very fortunate that the popular events attract judoka from all over the world, which…

14 November 2024

PIONEERING CLEAN JUDO

Dr. Pinelopi STAVRINOU, a former Cypriot judoka and current sport scientist with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, recently took on a new role as the anti-doping representative of the European Judo Union and with that became one of the Clean Judo Educators who support their respective continent. With her dual…

13 November 2024

Mia and Lana’s Inspiring Journey of Resilience Through Judo

FROM THE NICU TO THE TATAMI

Born prematurely, twin sisters Mia and Lana Mićanović faced immense challenges from the start. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, their journey has been one of perseverance, as their parents, Darko and his wife, committed their lives to the girls’ intensive therapies and care. Yet, it was a chance encounter with judo…

12 November 2024