Mr. Ján KRIŠANDA, a former judoka and the esteemed former president of the Slovakian Judo Federation for an impressive 16 years, continues to play a pivotal role in the advancement of sports in Slovakia. Currently serving as the State Secretary for Tourism and Sports, his dedication to fostering growth and excellence in judo remains steadfast. In a recent meeting with Marketing Director of the EJU, Mr. Jacek ZAWADKA, a wide range of topics was discussed, including the upcoming junior European Championships set to take place in Bratislava in 2025.
Following their meeting, Mr Krišanda recapped his thoughts on social media;
In this pre-Christmas time, I was very happy to meet my great friend, Marketing Director of the European Judo Union, Jacek Zawadka. I received him in our ministry, and we discussed possible support for the European Junior Championship and European Junior Cup, along with the overall development of judo in Slovakia. We also visited the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee (SOSC), where we had a meeting with the president, Mr. Anton SEIKEL.
At the Ministry of the Interior, where there was talk about the functioning of the Police Sports Center, we were received by my colleague and native, State Secretary Patrik KRAUSPE. In the National Council of Slovakia, we attended a reception with Mr. Chairman of the SNS, Andrej Danko, with whom I stood side by side during the founding of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic. It was a great honour for me to receive thanks from Mr. Zawadka for my lifetime domestic and foreign support of judo and sport in Slovakia.
Krišanda’s efforts remain instrumental in ensuring that Slovakia stands as a proud host for these events, reflecting the nation’s ongoing commitment to sporting excellence and international collaboration. Mr Zawadką, also shared his views on his visit;
We had very productive meetings and it is clear that Mr. Krišanda, as well as individuals from all other sectors, are keen to support the further development of judo in the country, to establish and embed themselves on the international stage, starting with an important championship, which is the Junior Europeans in 2025.
Krišanda’s legacy in judo transcends his time on the tatami. The saying, “Once a judoka, always a judoka,” perfectly encapsulates his enduring commitment to the sport. His proactive engagement and initiatives to support underscores his dedication to not only the Slovakian judo community but also to the broader European sporting landscape. With elite judo events regularly being hosted across the Central European regions, including the U23 Championships in Poland in 2024, the World Championships in Hungary in 2025, and the Junior Europeans in Slovakia in 2025, the region’s consistant growing prominence in the international judo scene is unmistakable.
Images: Ján Krišanda’s official social media platform
Author: Szandra Szogedi