Author: Iljana Marzok
A packed first day [25 April] at the Sportforum Berlin venue saw eight new Berlin champions crowned, representing Azerbaijan, France, Israel, the Republic of Moldova, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. The host nation, Germany, had to settle for one fifth place and two seventh places.
In the women’s lighter weight categories, Jade Barray (FRA), Yagmur Yilmazturk (TUR), Charos Hikmatova (UZB), and Alexandra Chiron (MDA) claimed gold.
-40 kg final: Jade Barray (FRA) vs Sunay Salamova (AZE)
For the 15-year-old Jade Barray, it was her first medal at a European Cup. She had already competed in Berlin last year but lost in her opening bout. This year, she was drawn against top seed and Rome winner Dominika Gracova (CZE) from the very first fight. She handled this confidently and after two more victories, she had secured her place in the final. In the -40 kg final, she put on a composed and well-matched performance against Sunay Salamova (AZE), repeatedly demonstrating strong groundwork sequences throughout the bout. In golden score, she sealed the win with a choke submission.
-44 kg final: Yagmur Yilmazturk (TUR) vs Sofia Longo (ITA)
In the under-44 kg category, the top seeds made it through to the final. With two consecutive tournament wins heading into the bout, Yagmur Yilmazturk was the favourite. Sofia Longo, however, was not intimidated and repeatedly worked her way into strong ne-waza sequences. The Turkish athlete was equally comfortable on the ground. With the score at 1:2 in shido (penalties), golden score was needed to declare a winner. Yilmazturk settled it after just 38 seconds, throwing with kata-guruma for waza-ari. It was her third consecutive European Cup victory. She heads to the European Cadet Championships as the number one contender.
-48 kg final: Charos Hikmatova (UZB) vs Viktoria Grigoryan (BEL)
Charos Hikmatova controlled the under-48 kg final from the very first moment. Just under a minute in, the Antalya winner launched a harai-goshi for waza-ari and managed the lead comfortably to the final gong. It was a second European Cup victory of the year for the Uzbek athlete.
-52 kg final: Alexandra Chiron (MDA) vs Teodora Vukasovic (SRB)
Alexandra Chiron had already stood on the podium in Berlin in 2025 and this time the 17-year-old returned as top seed. Teodora Vukasovic showed the sharper attacks in the standing phase, while Chiron responded persistently with groundwork. The decisive moment came with 20 seconds remaining: the 15-year-old Vukasovic hooked her leg in, attempting an uchi-mata or a backward throw. Chiron took the risk of countering with ura-nage and was rewarded with waza-ari. After bronze in 2025, it is now gold for Alexandra Chiron in Berlin.
Athlete Spotlight: Yagmur YILMAZTURK (TUR)
When Yagmur Yilmazturk arrived in Berlin, she had already competed at three European Cup tournaments this year. Her last two, in Teplice and Ganja, she had won. Yet she came to Berlin hungry for more and delivered once again: “Berlin is always a tournament with intense participation and tough competition. For me, this victory is an important stepping stone. I am very happy to have taken these steps firmly and represented my country in the best way possible.”
As a finalist at the European Cadet Championships in Skopje 2025, she already has experience at the highest level but even she feels the nerves: “I think the excitement of the first match is always something different. That’s why I can say that my first fight was the most nerve-wracking moment of the day for me.”
In 2025, Yilmazturk claimed bronze in Berlin in the under-40 kg category. In 2026, Berlin was a chance to further establish herself in the under-44 kg field. Across five fights, she faced four new opponents, among them Italy’s Sofia Longo and Uzbekistan’s Dilafruz Boltaboeva, rivals she could meet again later this year. The start of 2026 was not without setbacks: at the home European Cup in Antalya, she suffered two defeats in her first-ever under-44 kg competition but that only sharpened her resolve. Three victories followed: “Having my country’s anthem played motivates me towards the championship. At the same time, working hard, being disciplined, and making my family, my coach and my country proud. Those who believe in me are my greatest motivation.”
With her win in Berlin, Yagmur Yilmazturk climbs to third in the world rankings and is among the favourites for the European Championship title in the under-44 kg category: “My next competition is the [cadet] European Championship. I will continue to fight there as well, to represent my country and my flag at the highest level.” She already has a European silver medal to her name. Perhaps we will hear the Turkish national anthem for her in Gran Canaria too.
Four men’s titles were also decided on day one: Nihad Aghayev (AZE), Farid Khudiyev (AZE), Abubakr Sattorov (UZB) and Itamar Cohen (ISR) took gold in the lighter men’s weight categories.
-50 kg final: Nihad Aghayev (AZE) vs Mamurjon Abduvakhobov (UZB)
Mamurjon Abduvakhobov sought contact from the very first second and it paid off quickly. In the second exchange, he threw with o-uchi-gari. The Uzbek athlete claimed his first European Cup title in just 33 seconds.
-55 kg final: Farid Khudiyev (AZE) vs Ibrahim Talibov (AZE)
An all-Azerbaijani final in the under-55 kg category saw both fighters approach the bout cautiously, each searching for their rhythm and the better grip position. Much of the fight was played out in a double-sleeve grip. At the end, it was Farid Khudiyev who produced more attacking action, throwing with seoi-nage for the decisive waza-ari just under a minute before time.
-60 kg final: Abubakr Sattorov (UZB) vs Davlatbek Akhrorov (UZB)
Davlatbek Akhrorov had claimed bronze in Antalya earlier this year, where he defeated Abubakr Sattorov in the bronze medal bout. In their Berlin rematch, both athletes put the effort in from the opening exchanges. Mid-fight, Sattorov, winner of the 2025 Asian Youth Games, worked a turnover into tate-shiho-gatame for ippon. Gold for Sattorov. The head-to-head between the two now stands at 1–1.
-66 kg final: Itamar Cohen (ISR) vs Vladimir Todorov (BUL)
Itamar Cohen came in as top seed, most recently taking bronze in Poreč, while Vladimir Todorov had also earned a recent bronze in Ganja. In a right-sided ai-yotsu battle, Cohen dominated the first half of the fight and the Bulgarian the second. In golden score, Cohen settled matters after 35 seconds, driving in with o-uchi-gari for the decisive waza-ari.
Athlete Spotlight: Itamar Cohen (ISR)
Itamar Cohen was delighted after his victory in Berlin. It was his third time competing in the German capital and his first medal at this location. The 17-year-old arrived as the top seed in the -66 kg category. A European Cup win had eluded him until now, which made the moment all the sweeter: “Very good. It feels incredible. I have competed in around 10 European Cups before but this is my first gold medal. I couldn’t be happier.”
In 2025, Cohen steadily worked his way towards the podium, with three fifth-place finishes marking his progress. This year, he broke through: after another fifth place in Rome, he claimed bronze in Poreč. Armed with experience and the most ranking points accumulated over the last two years, he arrived in Berlin as the top seed without letting it affect his mindset: “The seeding didn’t change my approach. I just focused on my performance.”
Berlin demanded a great deal, six fights to get close to the title, knowing that all contests would be closely fought. Cohen delivered the best performance of his career: “It was the best competition day of my life. This is my last year as a cadet, so I had to work hard towards this victory for three years.” The toughest fight came last: “Without a doubt. It meant everything to me to go out in the final and win, and winning it was the greatest moment of my life.”
With this victory, Cohen’s nomination for the cadet highlights seems sealed. His goals are clear: “To become European champion and world champion.” The journey has only just begun. It will take perseverance but as a cadet, Cohen has learned that every success takes time, and that you have to keep pushing.
The heavier weight categories will be contested on Sunday, 26 April at Sportforum Berlin. Follow the event live on JudoTV.
Sunday’s programme, 26 April 2026
Women: −57 kg, −63 kg, −70 kg, +70 kg | Men: −73 kg, −81 kg, −90 kg, +90 kg
Author: EJU Media