Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
Victory has many voices. Sometimes it speaks through euphoria and celebration. Sometimes through exhaustion and relief and sometimes, as it did for Bulgaria’s two gold medallists in Sofia, it speaks through raw honesty and dedication that transcends sport entirely. GABRIELA DIMITROVA: “Everything in competition is difficult.” The question seems simple…
1 February 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
Issa Naschcho, ranked 345th in the world this morning, the Austrian judoka entered the -90kg category at the Sofia European Judo Open as an afterthought in a competitive draw. By the evening, he stood atop the podium, gold medal around his neck, having dismantled higher-ranked opponents and overcome the toughest…
1 February 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
The second and final day of the European Judo Open Sofia 2026 delivered everything the locals would have dreamed of. Meanwhile, if day one showcased European depth, day two proved that rankings are merely suggestions when athletes step onto the tatami. As the final medal ceremony concluded, Bulgaria stood atop…
1 February 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
Victor Skerlev entered the -73kg category at the Sofia European Judo Open amongst top eighth seed, respectively but hardly the overwhelming favourite. Ranked 79th in the world, the 20-year-old Bulgarian had potential on paper but questions in practice. Could he handle the pressure of competing at home? Would expectation weigh…
31 January 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
Olha Tsimko wasn’t on anyone’s pre-tournament favourites list. Ranked 167th in the senior world rankings, the 22-year-old Ukrainian entered the -70kg category at the Sofia European Judo Open without fanfare or expectation. By the time she left Arena 8888 on Saturday evening, she would announced herself to European judo in…
31 January 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
The opening day of the European Judo Open Sofia 2026 delivered precisely what competitive judo should: unpredictability, drama and a medal table that told the story of depth across European competition. Ukraine finished atop the standings with two golds and one silver but the victories were spread wide, 17 nations…
31 January 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
The International Judo Federation informed the judo community of updated rules at the beginning of January and as Europe’s first competition of 2026 approaches this weekend in Sofia, Bulgaria, the sport’s leadership has moved swiftly to ensure seamless implementation. Armen Bagdasarov, IJF Head Referee Director, joined a pre-event coaching seminar…
30 January 2026Sofia European Open 2026 - Sofia, Bulgaria
After weeks of winter training camps and meticulous preparation, European judo springs to life this weekend as Sofia hosts the season’s opening European Open on 31 January and 1 February. Arena 8888 will witness over 400 athletes from across Europe and beyond, all hungry to make their mark in a…
30 January 2026Herstal EJU OTC 2026 - Herstal, Belgium
Author: Alan Marchal Once again, nearly 300 judoka from 30 different countries will meet on the mat of the Olympic Training Camp in Herstal (Belgium) between 2-5 February 2026. “Bringing together so many athletes is always a source of pride,” says Frédéric Treuttens, President of Judo Wallonie Bruxelles, the Belgian…
30 January 2026The Macedonian Opera House in Skopje hosted hundreds of dignitaries, athletes and sporting officials on the evening of 29 January for the nation’s most prestigious sporting celebration. Amongst the assembled gathering, including multiple mayors, ambassadors, Minister of Sport Borko Ristovski, and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, one federation waited with particular…
29 January 2026The European Judo Union is conducting a survey to explore the potential establishment of a European Championships for Uniformed Forces and invites your participation. This initiative aims to recognise and celebrate the significant contribution of police officers, military personnel and other uniformed service members to the judo community across Europe.…
29 January 2026Episode 2
In the second instalment of our three-part series, Driton “Toni” Kuka recounts the moment that nearly ended his coaching career, the redemption that followed and the millimetre-perfect preparation that has delivered Olympic gold on the world’s biggest stage. The Lowest Point Every coach has a moment that defines them, a…
28 January 2026EJU Marketing Meeting - Belgrade, Serbia
When athletes step onto the tatami at major European competitions, they rarely think about what is beneath their feet. Yet the quality, safety and performance of competition mats can make the difference between confidence and hesitation, between peak performance and injury risk. For Zebra Regupol, that responsibility is both technical…
28 January 2026EJU Marketing Meeting - Belgrade, Serbia
Adidas DD has also renewed its partnership with the European Judo Union for 2026, with CEO Palma Ferracci present in Belgrade to sign the contract extension. In a significant development, the company will expand its commitment by supporting Kids Camp activities, demonstrating a strategic focus on youth development within European…
28 January 2026Erasmus +
Author/Images: JOY Project More than 22,000 participants of all ages and 349 judo coaches across Europe have benefited from the JOY – Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations Erasmus+ Sport project. After two years of research and pilot activities, the JOY project is now creating a free, multilingual online tool…
28 January 2026The Swedish Judo Federation has been awarded the prestigious Sports Association of the Year 2025 by the Swedish Central Association for the Promotion of Sports, recognising the federation’s exceptional achievements both on and off the tatami. Throughout 2025, the Swedish Judo Federation demonstrated both breadth and elite excellence, securing numerous…
27 January 2026EJU Marketing Meeting - Belgrade, Serbia
When Dragan Marković signed the contract in Belgrade during the EJU Marketing Meeting 2026, Triglav Insurance officially became part of the European Judo Union family but as we sat down following the ceremony, it became clear this isn’t just another corporate sponsorship deal. For Triglav, this partnership represents something deeper,…
26 January 2026Adapted Judo
The European Judo Union is delighted to announce the Adapted Judo calendar for 2026. The calendar is as follows: The EJU calendar has been updated accordingly.
23 January 2026