After hosting the Junior and U23 European Championships in 2020 following the initial spell of the pandemic, when all events were cancelled, the Croatian Judo Federation are welcoming competition back to the idyllic coastal area of Porec.
This is already an annual retreat for the EJU Judo Festival and OTC, but competition is quite something else. Croatia is always one of the most popular events for the cadet athletes, typically exceeding their own records year on year, and now we are looking at a mass entry of 580 athletes from 24 nations. EJU Vice President and Croatian Judo General Secretary, Hrvoje LINDI is confident it will be a great success,
It is a pleasure for everyone to come to Poreč, to the accommodation and all other infrastructure of the Blue Lagoon, as well as to the event organized by the experienced team of the Croatian Judo Federation. This year we are coming to Poreč a little earlier, unlike in June when we open with the Judo Festival, this year we are starting the judo season in Poreč with the European Cup. I invite everyone interested to support our competitors this weekend in as many numbers as possible!
Algeria, Kyrgyzstan and Brazil will be welcomed from outside of Europe on this occasion, with the latter bringing an incredible 55 athletes, including WRL #1 Luis Antonio OLIVEIRA (+90kg) and two WRL #2 athletes; Sophia CAMARA (-63kg) and Joao LIRA (-60kg). There is also another WRL #1 looking for a gold medal win in the -81kg category from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivan DJINKIC.
Of course the home team have the biggest entry of 84 athletes inclusive of a top ten athlete in the -52kg category, Laura BARISIC. She is still on the hunt for her first result of 2024, only just missing out on the bronze medal in Follonica. In 2023 however, Barisic topped the podium in Koper and later claimed bronze in Gyor.
The two day event will take place on the 16th and 17th of March, with the draw taking place online at 20:00 local time on JudoTV.com.
Author: Thea Cowen