The opening day of the Warsaw European Open delivered several memorable moments, not least the impressive performance of the Polish team. In nearly every final, the home crowd had a local athlete to support, creating an electric atmosphere inside the arena.
France ultimately finished on top of the overall medal table with four gold and three bronze medals, while Poland followed in second place with one gold and three silvers. Considering the vast difference in the scale and development of judo between the two nations, the Polish results were particularly remarkable. Competing in front of their home supporters, the local team rose to the occasion and roared on home ground.
The final block of day one opened with the bronze medal contests in the -63kg category, where the Dutch team was heavily involved, with three of the four representatives coming from the Netherlands. As a result, one of the bronze medals was guaranteed to go to the Dutch team and it was Elena Renes who secured it by overcoming Nadiah Krachten. The second bronze medal contest between Joni Geilen (NED) and Ariela Sanchez Benitez (ESP) ended in Spanish celebration.
The final brought together home favourite, two-time European Open medallist, Baku Grand Slam 2025 bronze medallist, Natalia Kropska (POL) and Sarajevo European Open 2023 winner, La Nucía European Open 2025 bronze medallist, Melodie Turpin (FRA). Though the scoreboard did not clearly reflect it, the first half of the contest was largely dominated by Kropska, who launched several promising attacks with o-uchi-gari and yoko-tomoe-nage, while also demonstrating strong skills in ne-waza.
During this time, the French judoka had to visit the medical table twice before the contest had even reached the halfway point (two minutes). Shortly afterwards, both athletes received a penalty each before a sharp o-uchi-gari attempt from Turpin caught Kropska off guard, though it did not result in a score.
The Polish judoka then initiated another o-uchi-gari but this time Turpin reacted perfectly, countering her opponent to take a yuko lead. With 54 seconds remaining, the French judoka managed to pull off a ko-uchi-gari, scoring another yuko. Turpin maintained her advantage until the end, securing the victory.
Asia took full control of the -60kg category, as the podium was shared between judoka from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, with most of them competing from unseeded positions. The bronze medals went to Muhammadjon Masharipov (UZB) and Assylkhan Zinullin (KAZ).
The all-Kazakh final between Sunggat Nurlatuly and Toktar Umutaliyev was decided in just 15 seconds, as the latter executed a perfectly timed shime-waza, forcing his teammate to tap out almost instantly. In Warsaw, it was the second international outing for Nurlatuly, and although his opponent has been active on the circuit, he had not competed at a ranking event since 2021.
The -70kg category bronze medals were claimed by Florine Soula (FRA) and Tanja Gruenewald (GER). The latter defeated her teammate Tayla Grauer (GER), while Soula completed a similar task against Laura Haberstock (FRA).
Sarajevo European Open 2025 winner Sarah Mehlau (GER) met Aleksandra Kowalewska (POL), bronze medallist at the U23 European Championships 2024 and silver medallist at the Conegliano European Open 2025, in the final. Once again, the home crowd hoped for a Polish gold medal.
Contrary to the outcome in the -63kg category, this time Poland had reason to celebrate. A well-timed drop seoi-nage, followed by strong ne-waza, secured the gold medal for Kowalewska.
Ari Berliner (USA) secured his bronze medal literally on the buzzer in the -66kg category against Meirbek Baizakov (KAZ), who had been leading by yuko beforehand. The second bronze medal was claimed by Tofig Mammadov (AZE).
Tallinn European Open 2025 winner Simon Lesauvage (FRA) faced triple European Open medallist Mattia Miceli (ITA) in the final, the Italian having also claimed bronze at the Tallinn edition in 2025. Although they shared the podium in Estonia, they had not crossed paths there. In Warsaw, however, it was time for a direct clash. The one for gold.
The French judoka took a yuko lead during the second half of the contest, while Miceli had already accumulated two penalties, placing himself in a difficult position. Nevertheless, he responded well, levelling the scoreboard with a yoko-otoshi. The contest moved into golden score, though Miceli remained under pressure with two penalties to his name. The extra time stretched into the fifth minute, when the Italian received his third and final penalty, handing the gold medal to Lesauvage.
The Netherlands secured another medal in the -78kg category in the form of a bronze, won by Xanne van Lijf (NED), who overcame Calypso Debuire (FRA) for a place on the podium. The second bronze medal was claimed by Morgane Rubiano (FRA).
The final brought together seven-time IJF World Tour medallist and seven-time Continental Open medallist Samah Hawa Camara (FRA) and first-time European Open finalist Sara Fernandez Campillo (ESP). Camara’s résumé spoke for itself, yet both athletes entered the event unseeded.
Their final contest developed into a tactical battle, largely controlled by the French judoka. With 1:35 remaining, the referee issued the third and final penalty to Fernandez Campillo, handing the gold medal to Camara.
The bronze medals in the -73kg category went to Kevin Abeltshauser (GER) and Khojiakbar Toshev (UZB). In the final, Poland’s run for gold continued as unseeded Wiktor Mrowczynski (POL) faced four-time Continental Open medallist and Paris Grand Slam 2021 bronze medallist, Orlando Cazorla (FRA).
It was their first meeting in a competition setting. The contest was evenly balanced, with each athlete receiving a penalty as they entered the final minute of regular time. Soon after, the pair moved into golden score, where Cazorla picked up a second penalty. Moments later, as if ignited by the pressure, the French judoka silenced the home crowd by securing a decisive hold-down on Mrowczynski to claim the gold medal.
The closing category of day one in Warsaw was the women’s +78kg division, where Kamila Berlikash (KAZ) and Dounia Nacer (FRA) claimed the two bronze medals.
The host nation concluded the day with yet another finalist. This time it was two-time IJF World Tour medallist and five-time Continental Open medallist Kinga Wolszczak (POL), who hoped to keep the gold medal at home. To do so, she needed to overcome Tiziana Marini (ITA), bronze medallist at the U23 European Championships 2025. At 2:18, the Italian launched underneath with a tsuri-komi-goshi, throwing her opponent for waza-ari, before fast transitioning into osae-komi to secure ippon, dashing Poland’s hopes of another gold medal.
The second and final day of the event will feature the women’s lightweight categories and the men’s heavyweight divisions. Watch all the action live on JudoTV.com and follow the behind-the-scenes moments on @europeanjudo.
Author: Szandra Szogedi