What used to be the Cadet European Cup in Koper now finds a new home in Kranjska Gora where a new chapter of rising talent will be written this weekend. The small Slovenian town near the Austrian border is ready to welcome Europe’s best U18 athletes for a weekend full of potential and new stories. More than 400 young athletes will take to the tatami, eager to show their skills and challenge a strong Slovenian team on home soil. Over fifteen percent of the competitors come from Slovenia, while Croatia brings another large delegation full of talent.
Serbia aims to grow its next generation of stars, with Germany and Hungary also sending impressive squads to Kranjska Gora. This weekend will be all about the next wave of European judo talent, following in the footsteps of former winners who have since reached the top of the sport. Croatia’s world number one at -70kg, Lara Cvjetko, claimed victory here back in 2017. Her teammate Ana Viktorija Puljiz, who is now competing at senior level this weekend at the European Open in Sarajevo, also won that first edition in 2017. Both went on to medal at the European Junior Championships shortly after.
Another standout name, Katarina Kristo of Croatia, who came close to an Olympic bronze, was also a past winner of this event in 2018. There is plenty of history in Slovenia’s cadet judo scene as it prepares for the 12th European Cup of the season. Only two more events remain this year, in Gyor and Thessaloniki. One of the names to watch is Lithuania’s Tajus Babaicenko, who recently captured his fourth European Cup title in Riga. He is the most successful cadet athlete of the season and will once again test himself in Kranjska Gora after successfully moving up to the -90kg category in Latvia. Expect a vibrant weekend with athletes from more than thirty nations competing in Kranjska Gora.
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Author: Hans Van Essen