After a two-year hiatus, Thessaloniki is back on the international sports stage, hosting the Thessaloniki Cadet European Cup 2024. Set to take place from 23-24 November, this tournament marks the final cadet European Cup of the year, drawing nearly 480 athletes from 30 countries across three continents. The action will unfold at the iconic Nick Galis Hall, named in honor of one of Europe’s greatest basketball players and a national hero in Greece.
Hidden on the list, you will find Giorgi GIVISHVILI (GEO), the reigning cadet world champion in the -66kg category, who also boasts a bronze from 2023 and two European medals. This weekend, Givishvili will attempt to succeed in the -73kg category. Fellow Georgian Tsotne BAKHTADZE, a silver medalist from the 2023 cadet worlds, will also seek to find his feet a weight above his usual, in the -81kg category. Same goes to Mathilde AUREL (FRA), cadet European and world silver medallists 2024, who will look to remain in a podium finish in the -44kg category too. Joining the show, Thomas SASSI (ITA) cadet world bronze medallist 2024 in the -55kg category. He will be joining the -60kg crew. This leaves room to our final ‘mover’, Mahammadali HUSIYEV (AZE), who is a cadet world bronze medallist 2024 in the -50kg yet in Greece he will test the water in the -55kg category.
The checklist follows on with Nika SLACEK (CRO), the cadet world silver medallist 2024 in the -70kg category. Slacek is the top seed in her weight class and the highest-ranked judoka for the weekend, holding the #4 position globally. Italy’s Giulia SORELLI, ranked #6 in the -57kg category, also stands out. Despite finishing 7th in both the cadet European and world championships this year, Sorelli enters the tournament on a high note, having won gold at the Koper Cadet European Cup last month.
In the men’s categories, Subhan AKHUNDOV (AZE) and Rassul MUKHUM (KAZ) are next in line on the ranking whilst topping their respective weight classes. Akhundov, who earned silver at the cadet European championships this summer, leads the +90kg category, while Mukhum, a bronze medalist at the 2023 cadet Asian championships and 5th finisher at the 2024 cadet worlds, is a strong contender in the -81kg category.
With 81 Greek athletes participating, including standout performer Sofia MATSIRIDI, ranked #13 in the -63kg category and top seed of her division in Thessaloniki, the nation’s hopes are high for a strong finish to the year. For fans, live streaming and real-time results will be available on JudoTV.
Author: Szandra Szogedi