While the Georgian men may be leading in the heavyweight categories on the third and final day of the individual competition, Israels leading ladies; Inbar LANIR and Raz HERSHKO are running the show in the -78kg and +78kg categories.  Lanir is the reigning World and IJF Masters Champion from 2023 but is still vying for her podium spot this year, Given her ability to perform on the major championship stage, this could very well be her ticket back. In the previous European Championships, she was only defeated by the eventual champion, Alina BOEHM (GER) who managed to defend her 2022 title a ..read more

Author: Italian Judo On the second day of competitions in Lignano, the performance of the Georgian athletes impressed, bringing home two gold medals with Luka JAVAKHISHVILI in the -81kg category and Saba KARDAVA in the +100kg category, along with Giorgi LOLADZE’s victory on Day 1 in the -73kg category. The three gold medals earned the Team Georgia the victory of the Tarcento Trophy, a local award given to the national team that achieves the highest number of gold medals in the men’s medal tally. The final of the -81kg category was decisive, featuring a spectacular match between Luka JAVAKHISHV ..read more

On the second day of the Senior European Championships 2024, there will only be four weight categories competing, however they are the most populated. Sporting the greatest number are the men’s -73kg category. Eyes will be on defending European Champion, an individual with three senior titles, U23, junior and cadet accolades, not to mention the top position in the world ranking list, Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE). In his past five events, four gold medals came his way, and the 26 year-old has  only been on the rise. He will however, have to compete against some of the best in the world to take a ..read more

Top world ranking positions, world titles, Grand Slam medals and seeding aside, the pressure is dialling up for the Croatian women’s team who have been claiming 2024 as their own, and now have the monumental job of taking a European title.  Many may assume that there is a home advantage, and to some extent it is true, but with those home comforts comes the added feeling of potential disappointment. Fortunately for these ladies, Zagreb, and Croatia, has played host to major championships and IJF World Tour events in their plentiful, so they are well prepped and raring to go!  In the ..read more

Eight times World Rally Champion Sebastien OGIER clinched victory in Zagreb, Croatia after emerging from a tense three-way fight in the WRC Croatia Rally 2024. After the event, the Frenchman conversed with numerous fans including EJU Vice President Hrvoje LINDI with whom he spent some time and wished all the best to the French Judo team for the upcoming European Championships in Zagreb. Vice President Lindi stated, It was quite facinating when I mentioned judo to Mr Ogier, he knew almost everything about it. I’m so proud that people from other sports, with such careers are aware about judo ..read more

Author: Italian Judo On the first day of competition in Lignano Valerio ACCOGLI (ITA) managed to replicate his success from two years ago. Accogli won in the -66kg category, one of the largest categories in the competition, along with the -73kg. During elimination rounds, Accogli defeated the French athlete Maximilien PETITE, then Rilay RAKOTONDRAMANAGA (SUI) and Alexandru MORARU (MDA). In the semi-final, he prevailed over the German Noel SCHMIDT.  Today I felt very good and in great shape, I faced the competition with a lot of calmness. The goal is always the same: try to approach them ..read more

The newly established European Judo Hopes Cup & Technical Session Kodokan Experts is a great way to bring all enthusiastic 13 and 14-year-old judoka together and onto their very own EJU tour.  The first two-day edition was held this weekend in Sarajevo. This event is made of a competition and technical session, both which, all participants are required to attend.  Winner of the Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medal, Maria CENTRACCHIO of Italy was first guest to join the expert team and was excited to inspire the next generation of young judokas. It’s a great honor for me to be h ..read more

Author: Dino Stambolić The European Judo Hopes Cup Sarajevo 2024 has fully justified the decision of the European Judo Union (EJU) to include the new competition in its calendar and to entrust the technical organization to the Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to the competition, all young judoka had the opportunity to learn from Olympic medallists through the Technical Session Kodokan Experts. Gold medallist from the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Japanese athlete, TAKIMOTO Makoto, who acted as a Kodokan Expert, and Maria CENTRACCHIO, bronze medallist from the Tokyo Olympics ..read more

Poland has delivered a rather large medal tally on home ground during the Warsaw Veteran European Cup 2024. With the total of 13 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals, the host nation has outclassed the majority. Thought, the field seemed quiet competitive as the total of 13 nations took a gold medal at least. Twelve of the 13 Polish gold medals was earned by the men’s team and as per the women’s team, Monika CHROSCIELEWSKA (F2/-63kg) took single victory. The 38-year-old judoka first defeated Magdalena STASIENKO (POL) before securing a win against Natasha GLASSFORD (GBR) to take glory. The ..read more

Despite the Olympic year presenting preparation difficulties for athletes still wanting to compete in the upcoming European and World Championships, there is still a tremendous entry of 439 judoka from 47 nations competing in the Senior European Championships 2024 in Zagreb between the 25th and 28th of April.  This covers both the Individual and Mixed Team events over the four-day period, but first lets look at the men who will compete for titles on day one.  Kickstarting the exciting championships in Zagreb are the men in -60kg and -66kg. Right off the bat we can see the absence of ..read more