The European Youth Olympic Festival 2025 is in full swing now as the final contests have been concluded on day one, seeing three gold medals go to Azerbaijan, but the first went to Belgium.
First up were the young women in the -40kg category and what a ballistic start is was!
Cadet European silver medallist Yagmur YILMAZTURK (TUR) was eager to swap the second for first place and committed to the most incredible counter, over spinning from an uchi mata attack from Fenne PEETERS (BEL) and was originally awarded a waza ari score. Following the movement, the commission reviewed and the score was transferred to Peeters, the landing coming from her initial technique. Of course it was an emotional finish for the Turkish athlete but to take a place in two prime event finals within a month is an impressive feat. As for Peeters, this was a satisfying improvement on her bronze medal in the Cadet European Championships.
Taking bronze medals were TAKACS Nora (HUN) in only seven seconds, and Julia BLASZCZYK in only one minute.
The first of three finalists for Azerbaijan stood on the tatami in the -50kg category, Rza KHALILLI, joined by Spain’s Alejandro CHIARRONI CUTILLAS. Khalilli was faster from the start, scoring two yuko points with ko uchi gari and de ashi barai, but Chiarroni Cutillas made a comeback, waiting for an ashi waza attack and countered for his own yuko. Unfortunately for the Spanish judoka it was too late and he simply didn’t have the time to make a comeback.
Bronze medals in the -50kg category were taken by Saba BOLKVADZE (GEO) in a gruelling golden score, which aligned with the adjoining tatami, as Axel CUQ (FRA) and SZABO Milan (HUN) went head to head with two shidos a piece for a further 31 seconds before Szabo ceded with a third penalty.
While Khalilli waited in line to step on the podium and collect his gold medal, he watched as his team mate, Gulshan HUSEYNOVA moving at lightning speed, scoring ippon in only 8 seconds with sumi gaeshi. It was certainly on trend for her today given the speed of her prior contests!
Denisa SERBAN (ROU) continued the swift trend in the women’s categories, taking bronze in only 19 seconds with a strong juji gatame, yet in the second bronze medal contest, Viktorija GRIGORYAN (BEL) had to work a little longer, coming close on numerous occasions to being defeated with juji gatame at the hands of Sara CONI (GBR), she finally found her moment to try her own, and managed to get the arm free, adding another medal to Belgium’s tally.
Rasul ALIZADA (AZE) was almost in a panic in the -55kg final, the Cadet European Champion was almost caught in ne waza in the opening exchange by Kristian BUTUCI (CRO). After this the contest remained wide open, yet neither could find a score, only a single shido was picked up by Butuci. After a further 42 seconds, Alizada doubled up on his title in 2025 with a tidy ko uchi gari, adding the third gold to Azerbaijan’s collection.
Alin MArian SORICI (ROU) won due to his opponent being issued hansoku make for throwing against the arm. The adjoining tatami saw a four-minute contest with Silvano CORI (SUI) coming out on top, scoring yuko with uchi mata in the final forty seconds.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen