Day one of the Tallinn European Open 2025 will see one of Estonia’s rising stars, Emma-Melis AKTAS, compete in the +78kg category.
In the most recent World Championships in Budapest, many new faces donned the tatami, and one who made herself seen was 2024 Cadet World bronze medallist, Aktas. She gave an incredible performance in her debut senior championships, however she is coming back as the defending champion of this Open event. In 2024, Aktas delighted her home crowd by claiming the gold medal, defeating top seed – who is also returning – Sydnee ANDREWS (NZL) in her opening round, going on to defeat the 2023 Junior European Champion, Paulien SWEERS (NED), before finally stripping Ruslana BULAVINA (UKR) of her winning streak in Tallinn.
There is a strong entry among the women’s categories from Team Germany, including two-time U23 European Champion, and 2024 finalist, Samira BOCK in the -70kg category. She will also be joined by team mate Tayla GRAUER who took bronze in the Junior World Championships 2024. There continues to be a trend of up and coming athletes and the perfect place to hone their skills in order to perform on the IJF World Judo Tour, is in a continental open.
We also see the return of high performance athletes from injury or breaks, and we see just that with top seed in the -70kg category, Katie -Jemima YEATS-BROWN (GBR). It has certainly been a tough cycle for the British athlete, however she looked to be back on the rise following a bronze medal in the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam last year. She won’t be lacking stiff competition however, so it won’t be an easy ride in Estonia.
Day one will see the lighter men’s categories compete; -60kg, -66kg and -73kg. Starting with the -60kg, it looks more like a national championships with the top three form Israel; Yehonatan VEKSLER followed by Lior RAFAILOV and Roie ROSEN.
With quick success as a cadet athlete, Veksler discovered the stiff curve as he moved through junior and in to senior life. Frustration was swiftly discovered but in February, his faith in himself was restored as he secured the gold medal in the Ljubljana European Open. It was more than a gold medal for him and he will be looking to double up on continental open success. Coming up behind Israel’s entry is Junior European bronze medallist, Ksawery IGNASIAK (POL), who unfortunately met Olympic medallist, Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA) in the round of 16 during the Senior European Championships, but quickly made a comeback in La Nucia European Open, earning bronze.
The -66kg category is heavily populated, with another British representative at the top of a category; Charlie YOUNG. He will be rivalled by team mate, Grand Prix winner and Grand Slam medallist, Samuel HALL in the seeded positions. In fact Team Great Britain have a strong presence in this weight class, including Lewis FRYER, Finlay ALLAN and Joshua BELL. Looking for the top spot on the podium however is Viljar LIPARD (EST), hoping to impress the home crowd.
Again, in the -73kg category, Great Britain threaten with Ethan NAIRNE and Oliver SHORT in the top eight, but the category will be headed by Ireland’s Joshua GREEN, followed by Ljubljana European Open bronze medallist, Alexander Bernd GABLER (GER). The six-time continental open medallist had a near miss in the Tbilisi Grand Slam last year, finishing in fifth position and is always an exciting contender. Still within the top four, Valtteri OLIN (FIN) us a capable option to finish on the podium, having finished in fifth place in the Senior European Championships in 2024. Rounding out the top four is Croatia’s Grand Prix medallist, Robert KLACAR, who claimed his IJF World Judo Tour medal last year at home in Zagreb.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen