The opening day of the La Nucia/Benidorm European Open delivered exactly what these tournaments are famous for: surprise storylines, emotional returns, fearless young talent and moments of pure drama that reminded everyone why judo can turn in a single heartbeat.
With medals decided in the women’s -63 kg, -70 kg, -78 kg and +78 kg categories, alongside the men’s -60 kg, -66 kg and -73 kg divisions, the atmosphere on the Costa Blanca shifted constantly between expectation and unpredictability.
Yet few moments captured the attention of the arena quite like the appearance of Olympian and former world champion Marie-Ève Gahié in an entirely new division.
For years, the French star established herself among the elite at -70 kg, helping strengthen one of the most competitive categories in world judo. In La Nucía, however, she stepped onto the tatami at -78 kg, and despite admitting the transition was far from simple, the bronze medallist walked away smiling.
“It wasn’t easy actually but I really enjoyed fighting in this category.”
Naturally, speculation immediately followed. Is this the beginning of a permanent move? Could this be the start of a new Olympic cycle at -78 kg?
Gahié, however, was not ready to reveal too much.
“As you say, it’s a surprise… so let’s see if it’s a surprise or not.”
The French judoka acknowledged the fierce internal competition within the national team setup, underlining just how demanding selection remains in a powerhouse nation like France.
“We have a strong category in -78 kg… and all summer we have a lot of competitions, so it’s going to be tough for the staff.”
While Gahié’s appearance created headlines, the day’s most breathtaking sporting moment arguably belonged to Kazakhstan’s Nurmukhamet Botabay in the men’s -66 kg final.
For almost the entire contest, American judoka Ari Berliner appeared moments away from victory. Then came the final seconds.
With only four seconds remaining on the clock, Botabay launched a desperate transition from tomoe-nage directly into juji-gatame, catching Berliner in dramatic fashion and completely turning the final upside down. The arena erupted as the Kazakh judoka snatched victory from the edge of defeat.
Speaking afterwards, Botabay remained composed but ambitious, revealing that the Olympic dream is already firmly in his mind.
“To fight in the Olympic Games is a big dream. He will prepare and work hard to go to the Olympic Games.”
The young generation also ensured their presence was felt throughout the day, especially in the men’s -73 kg category.
Two medallists from the 2025 Junior European Championships once again found themselves battling deep into the competition. Reigning junior European champion Irakli Goginashvili (GBR) claimed silver, while Sweden’s Narek Vardanian secured bronze after an impressive run that was ultimately halted by Goginashvili in the semi-final.
At the conclusion of day one, the Netherlands lead the overall medal standings with two gold and one bronze medal. Germany sit in second place with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while France occupy third position with the same medal tally but fewer fifth-place finishes.
The tournament now moves into its second day with medals still to be decided in the following categories:
Women: -48 kg, -52 kg, -57 kg
Men: -81 kg, -90 kg, -100 kg, +100 kg
Watch all actions live via JudoTV.
Author: EJU Media