European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Luka Mkheidze: „Georgia is my second home”

It was Luka Mkheidze’s second European title at the European Senior Championships in Tbilisi and itwas as special as his first one: In 2023, the Frenchman won at home in France and now, three yearslater, he claimed the second gold again on home soil as he is originally from Georgia.…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Shirine Boukli: “I just love getting things done”

Shirine Boukli did it again: The bubbly Frenchwoman extended her golden streak in Tbilisi to take home her fifth title in her fifth appearance at the European Senior Championships. She has never lost a contest at the European Championships so far.  “I am very proud of this fifth title, in…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-66 kg: Chopanov Pushes Top Seed into Second Place

World and European medallist Luukas Saha (FIN) arrived in Tbilisi as the number one seed and lived up to that designation in the early rounds. One by one he picked off his opponents, impressive ne-waza often giving him the edge. His European championship campaign was off to a great start!…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-52 kg: Krasniqi Stays on Top

Witnessing the epic battles of some of the greats is always enthralling and in Tbilisi, on day one of the European Championships 2026, there were plenty of huge names to follow but in the final, it was old rivals Krasniqi and Buchard who delivered an elite spectacle, the highest level…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-60 kg: Mkheidze Defies the Odds

In Tbilisi the lightest of the men’s categories delivered explosive, fast-paced judo from the very first ‘hajime’ of the day. On the top half of the draw, the top seeds did as their ranking invited them to do. On the bottom half of the draw, it was a different story!…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

-48 kg: Boukli Hits Her Target

On this opening day of the European Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026, the expected mix of confirmations and surprises filled the Olympic Palace in Georgia’s capital. At -48 kg, the number one seed at the beginning of the day was none other than Olympic and world medallist, defending European champion Shirine…

16 April 2026

EJU Kids Camp 2026 - Tbilisi, Georgia

Inspiring the Next Generation: Liparteliani and Zirakashvili at the EJU Kids Camp

This picture says it all: Varlam Liparteliani and Tengo Zirakashvili surrounded by children that not only look at their medals but can touch them and feel the spirit of judo. Teaching at the Kids Camp at the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026 is a lot more than just another training…

16 April 2026

EJU Kids Camp 2026 - Tbilisi, Georgia

Young judoka at the EJU Kids Camp: „Judo is the perfect sport“

They got their chance and they loved every second: about 200 young judoka from Georgia, Greece, Ukraine and Armenia joined the EJU Kids Camp at the European Senior Championships Tbilisi 2026 in the Georgian capital. Bright eyed and excited, the youngsters aged 8 to 16 years trained together, watched and…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Boukli Hunts a Fifth European Title

Among the many huge names to be found in the draw for the 2026 European Championships, on day one it is Shrine Boukli (FRA) who arrives with the most gold medals in hand. Four European titles, all recent, all spectacular, illustrate a career that exudes humility but never at the…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Lasha Gujejiani: Pride not Pressure

Ahead of the opening day of the 2026 (16th to 19th April) European Championships in Tbilisi, Georgian head coach Lasha Gujejiani offered some insight, some thoughts about the Georgian psyche and what it means to compete at home. “It’s not just about championships but about relationships, and the relationship we…

16 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Officials and Athletes Agree: We Must Focus on What We Can Achieve Right Here, Right Now

Following the draw for the 2026 European Championships, being held this week in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, a press conference was held to give the media an opportunity to meet with delegation coaches, athletes, EJU officials and Georgian Judo Federation personnel. On the panel were EJU President Dr Laszlo…

15 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Europe Delivers First Draw of the Continental Championship Season

For only the second time, the European Championships is being held in Georgia, a country that lives and breathes for judo, a country of passion, history, champions and hospitality. Nowhere could be more aligned with the global judo environment than here! As the event fervour builds in Tbilisi, there are…

15 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgian judo champions: “Judo is in our blood”

As Europe’s best judoka flow into Tbilisi, Georgia, for the 2026 European Championships, the EJU catch up with some of the host nation’s top stars among the men’s categories to talk about what judo means to them, what kind of judo one can expect from the Georgians on the tatami,…

15 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Fabio Basile Steps In for Manuel Lombardo at 2026 European Championships

Less than a month ago, Fabio Basile spoke to the EJU about the joys of becoming a father and the uncertainty surrounding his judo future. At the time, he had said that his next competition would be in May. Now, in a sudden twist, Basile is set to return to…

14 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Senior Europeans 2026 Preview: +78kg & +100kg

Just over 24 hours remain until the official draw for the Senior European Judo Championships Tbilisi 2026 is completed, and in 48 hours, the first hajime will be called as the opening contests get underway. Delegations are arriving in the Georgian capital hour by hour, and the tension, in the…

14 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Krpálek: “I want to be an example for younger athletes”

With the European Championships in Tbilisi fast approaching, few names resonate quite like Lukáš Krpálek. A double Olympic champion who has succeeded across two weight categories, the Czech heavyweight continues to compete at the highest level, driven not by past success but by a clear sense of purpose, one that…

14 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Senior Europeans 2026 Preview: -100kg & -78kg

Two reining Paris 2024 Olympic champions come as the top seeds in the -100kg and -78kg categories, both on the hunt for the European title at the upcoming European Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 16-19 April: Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev and Italy’s Alice Bellandi. -100kg Reigning Olympic champion and top seed Zelym…

13 April 2026

European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals - Tbilisi, Georgia

Hungary's Szofi Özbas Embraces Calm and Confidence Ahead of 2026 European Title Defence

Since moving up from the -63kg to the -70kg category, Hungary’s Szofi Özbas has claimed four Grand Slam golds in her new weight, along with the 2025 European title, her first senior continental crown. The 24-year-old arrives at the European Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 16-19 April as the defending…

13 April 2026