Author: António da Costa
The first day of the Portimão Junior European Cup 2026 has come to an end. As expected, the day delivered excellent contests, plenty of excitement and a very high level of judo. This year’s edition has attracted 362 judoka from 23 countries, creating a strong and competitive field. Italy currently leads the medal table with two gold, two silver and five bronze medals, while Spain sits in second place with two gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
Yet, today’s standout performance came from the youngest of the Cvjetko sisters, Jana Cvjetko (CRO), who dominated the -70kg category at the Portimão Arena. Her superiority was clear throughout the day, as she did not concede a single score against her opponents, demonstrating the promise of an exciting future.
After a break of around two and a half months to recover from a knee injury sustained following the 2025 Junior World Championships, this was her first event back on the European circuit. The comeback could hardly have gone better, earning her the gold medal and valuable ranking points in the category.
“I am really glad that I won the gold medal. It is a great result for me and I think it is a good start to the season.” Despite a short preparation period, the competition proved both demanding and rewarding, with Cvjetko overcoming all of her opponents on the way to victory.
Another category worth highlighting was the -73kg, where two medallists from the 2025 Junior European Championships met in the final. Narek Vardanian (SWE), silver medallist at the 2025 Junior Europeans, faced Lucio Tavoletta (ITA), who claimed bronze at the same event. In a closely contested bout, the decision came in the opening seconds of golden score, when Vardanian secured victory with ippon.
Speaking of siblings, alongside the Cvjetko sisters, the Coulibaly Toure sisters from Spain also captured attention. The pair faced each other in the +78kg semi-final, meaning only one could progress to the final. Mama Coulibaly Toure won the family encounter and went on to claim the gold medal. Ballalo Coulibaly Toure, relegated to the bronze medal contest, bounced back strongly to secure a place on the podium with a third-place finish.
The competition continues tomorrow with another full day of exciting contests. It also coincides with International Women’s Day, adding extra significance to the performances of the female judoka competing on the tatami in Portimão. Watch how day two unfolds via JudoTV.com.
Author: EJU Media