Author: Carola Paissoni
The opening day of the European Cadet Cup in Rome concluded today, marking a historic debut for the Italian capital as it hosts the seasonal kick-off of the cadet circuit for the very first time. The PalaPellicone in Ostia welcomed an exceptional turnout, with more than 30 nations represented and close to 800 athletes competing, underlining the prestige of this event within the European youth judo calendar.
Day one saw the light and middleweight categories take to the tatami, with high entry numbers and an impressive technical level evident from the very first rounds. Particular attention was on the Italian team, present with a large and evolving squad, immediately tested against some of Europe’s most promising cadet prospects.
It proved to be an intense and hard-fought opening day for the host nation, which finished second in the medal standings with one gold, two silver and five bronze medals. Let’s hear from some of the day’s winners:
Bruno De Denaro, Italy’s sole gold medallist, claimed victory in the -55kg category:
“The feeling of winning a European Cup as a first-year cadet is really amazing. Seeing my mum proud of me and my friends cheering me on means everything. The hardest fight for me is always the first one. That is when I feel the most pressure because it sets the tone for the whole day. Today my yoko-tomoe-nage made the real difference. I want to thank my mum, my dad who was watching from home, my club and all my friends who always support me. Thank you.”
In the -44kg category, Bulgaria’s Sofia Mavrova celebrated victory:
“I am so excited because it is my first time competing as a cadet. Today was a test rather than my main goal of the season. The semi-final and final were very important and I had to focus a lot on tactics because Ferro was very strong. I tried to combine my technique with my tactical plan, which wasn’t easy at all. This event is part of my process and it gave me confidence. I would like to thank my dad, who is also my coach, my family and my judo club.”
The competition continues tomorrow, Sunday 8 February, with the remaining weight categories set to conclude what has already been an exciting weekend of judo. The eliminatory rounds begin at 9.00am and can be followed live on JudoTV.
Check out the full gallery of the event via the following link: ‘Millennium Team’ Cadet European Cup Rome 2026 – European Judo Union
Author: EJU Media