It isn’t so often we are treated to the national anthem of Lithuania, but on the third day of competition in the European Youth Olympic Festival 2025, Tajus BABAICENKO (LTU) stood atop of the -81kg podium, proud to have had such a successful day.
It was a very tough match against Mykhailo SOLIANYK (UKR) in the final, back and forth with great attacks but unable to find the scoring landing. After an already tiring day, the pair had to dig deep as they started in to golden score. After a minute and a half of an even contest, it was a fast twitch ko uchi gari from Babaicenko that scored a close yuko. It was so close that Babaicenko didn’t believe it to be a score and refrained from any celebration. However after a quick check, it was confirmed to be a win for the Lithuanian who was then overcome with joy, making up for his disappointment in the Cadet European Championships one month ago.
Actually it feels really good, I was hoping to win because I lost in the Cadet European Championships, so today I just thought I have to win. It was strength to strength, I’d do an attack, he would do an attack and it just went on and on, then in golden score I got a yuko, but I stayed calm because I didn’t know if it was a score or not.
A bronze medal in the Cadet European Championships a month ago in the same arena would have been motivation enough, but was else was contributing to his driving force?
My motivation, well that came from my friend, Majus GENYS [-90kg], he was Cadet European Champion and he told me ‘Tajus, you have to win! You have to represent Lithuania!’ and I really believed that I could win this today. My parents, they’re watching me, and I know how they want me to win, so it was from them as well.
With 14 other disciplines here in Skopje, North Macedonia, the medal table is filling up with countless athletes in other areas, however judo has helped put Lithuania in the running,
We have one judoka that placed third in the -66kg category, Zygimantas KARALEVICIUS and now me! I’m proud I can do this for my team.
There’s a good chance at yet another medal on the fourth and final day of competition with his team mate, Genys competing in the -90kg category, attempting to double up on his success this year.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen