The European Judo Union are the one continental union to host this explicit degree of occasion. The aim of cadet, junior and now the ‘Hopes’ occasions, is for the event of athletes in Europe. We’re very lucky that the favored occasions appeal to judoka from all around the world, which continues to push the degrees larger. Nonetheless, there’s not all the time a seamless transition from junior to senior, and it’s right here that the U23 European Championships lends itself. It may be essential for therefore many athletes to have this small bridge as they navigate their place on the senior tour.
Although sometimes this occasion attracts juniors and people within the ‘in between’ part, Piła can also be attracting a a lot youthful crowd this 12 months, fairly a number of capable of boast championship medals at each European and World degree as cadets this 12 months. The host nation specifically is utilizing this chance to check their sturdy younger workforce.
Jakub KUROWSKI will compete for Poland within the -60kg class and has already impressed this 12 months on quite a few events; inserting 2nd and third within the Cadet European and World Championships respectively. Within the -78kg class, Zuzanna BANASZEWSKA not solely left Sofia with a Cadet title, however continued her domination in Lima, turning into Cadet World Champion within the +70kg class. Already a Junior European title holder, Katarzyna SOBIERAJSKA will symbolize within the -70kg, and has loads of expertise beneath her belt. This shall be her remaining alternative to compete on this occasion, however will probably be a fond farewell for the two-time Grand Prix medallist to carry out on a European stage in entrance of family and friends.
There may even be some extra heavy hitters from the world stage, within the -48kg class, Olympic bronze medallist Tara BABULFATH (SWE) is returning to the tatami. Transferring in to the -57kg class has already confirmed to be a robust transfer for the -52kg Grand Slam medallist, Ana Viktorija PULJIZ (CRO), who positioned second within the Zagreb Grand Prix at her new weight. Puljiz already gained the U23 European title in 2021, in addition to a bronze in 2023 however there’s all the time room for another. Additionally within the -57kg class, Nino LOLADZE (GEO) took silver at this degree final 12 months and shall be hoping to face one step larger, maybe together with her extra lately acquired expertise as a World Combined Group medallist, she may have an additional push. The identical might be stated for Eter ASKILASHVILI within the -63kg who shall be travelling out for Group Georgia.
Elena DENGG most lately made waves for Group Austria, successful her Junior World title in Tajikistan and shall be fuelled to take yet one more, however may have competitors within the -70kg class from the likes of Samira BOCK (GER) who’s trying to take her third U23 European title in a row! Germany will proceed to be a powerhouse within the -78kg class with the likes of Anna MONTA OLEK, three-time Grand Prix winner and most lately claimed her first Grand Slam title in Abu Dhabi. Within the +78kg class, Hilal OZTURK with be representing Türkiye, and although she sits at #8 on the earth rating listing, she missed out on Olympic alternative as her extra senior workforce mate took the place, however nonetheless at solely 22 years-old, she has a lot left to supply.
Although within the -60kg class, there will not be Olympians, there are nonetheless champions within the making! Nazar VISKOV (UKR) was the one to defeat Kurowski within the European remaining, and he has been on a roll as of latest so shall be one to observe for on day one. Within the -66kg class, a few names stand out together with 2023 Junior European Champion, Tengo ZIRAKASHVILI (GEO) and Senior European silver medallist, Muhammed DEMIREL (TUR), these following are additionally steadily making their method on the senior circuit so this might be a really robust class to foretell. As Zirakashvili took his junior title, so did Giorgi TERASHVILI (GEO) within the -73kg class, and shall be little question be supporting each other on day one. He shall be joined by the latest Zagreb Grand Prix winner, SZEGEDI Daniel (HUN).
A fantastic contender within the -81kg class shall be Omar RAJABLI (AZE), already making headway on the IJF World Tour with a silver medal from the Baku Grand Slam. As for the -90kg males, rising star, Mihail LATISEV (MDA) shall be joined by Junior European Champions, 2024 winner Miljan RADULJ (SRB) and from 2023, Lars VAN OOSTRUM (NED). A well-known title is Aslan KOTSOEV (AZE), youthful sibling to the present -100kg Olympic Champion, Zelym KOTSOIEV, who lately supported his brother within the Junior World Championships however narrowly missed out on the rostrum place. SAFRANY Peter was additionally a part of the profitable Hungarian workforce in Zagreb, the place he picked up his first Grand Prix title.
Titles proceed to fly round within the -100kg class, Nikita YUDANOV (UKR) took second place within the U23 European Championships final 12 months, simply after taking his Cadet title, however in a brand new class he’s nonetheless testing his talents. Jean CARLETTI (ITA) gave a surprising efficiency in The Hague in 2023 taking a Junior European title, and has now been making an attempt out the senior circuit, most lately successful a bronze within the Tallinn European Open. Lastly, within the males’s +100kg, Cadet European Champion and World silver medallist, Marek-Adrian MASAK (EST) will probably be taking up Junior World silver medallist Kanan NASIBOV (AZE), in addition to 2021 Junior World Champion and final years U23 silver medallist, Irakli DEMETRASHVILI (GEO).
The draw shall be dwell at JudoTV.com at 16:00 native time on the 14th of November.
Judoka
Creator: Thea Cowen
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