Author: Gino Stefanel
This weekend, Lignano Sabbiadoro will host the 15th edition of the European Junior Cup. Notably, for the first time, the Japanese women’s national team will be among the competing delegations. Andrea Piccinini, President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region’s judo division, commented: “Japan’s participation this year leads us to believe that the competition will be of the highest calibre. This is also the result of the work of the organising club, Kuroki Tarcento, which has a very large and cohesive group of volunteers.”
As of 8 April, a total of 638 athletes from 29 nations have registered. The current participation record for the European Junior Cup circuit stands at 604, set at the 2018 Lignano event, and there is a strong likelihood that this figure will be surpassed. Alongside European nations, delegations from Mexico and several Asian countries, including India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, will also be in attendance.
The President of FIJLKAM, the Italian Judo Federation, shared the following welcome message: “It will be an honour to host, once again in Italy, sporting events of the highest level, whose success is guaranteed by an efficient and experienced Organising Committee, operating in a setting characterised by its strong tradition of hospitality and the quality of its infrastructure. I am therefore delighted to extend the greetings of the Italian Federation and myself to all participants, wishing the athletes every success in their sporting endeavours.”
Olympian and junior world champion 2023, Veronica Toniolo will serve as ambassador for this edition. “Lignano was a very useful start to the season for me,” she explained, “so, building on that, my advice is to take everything the competition gives you and use it in the future. Of course, I hope everyone achieves their desired results, but more importantly, I hope everyone can learn from what happens.”
The event will also mark the 43rd edition of the traditional Tarcento Trophy. In addition to the 14 individual titles, five team awards will be presented: the Tarcento Trophy (best men’s team, continuing a tradition established in 1982), the European Union Cup (best women’s team), the Valli del Torre Cup (best overall team), the Costantini Cup (best regional team), and the Amicizia Cup (awarded to the best debuting team in the Tarcento Trophy).
Furthermore, the 4th Trevisan Prize will be awarded in memory of referee Luigi Alberto Trevisan. The competition will begin on Saturday 11 April and conclude on Sunday 12 April, followed by a training camp from 13 to 15 April. All action will be available live on JudoTV.
Author: EJU Media