Author: Yiannis Chatzidopavlakis
For the second year in a row, Georgia celebrated first place at the Thessaloniki Millennium Team Cadet European Cup 2025, held at the YMCA Sports Centre. The Georgian team earned a total of 14 medals: three gold, five silver and six bronze. They also appeared in six additional repechage finals, resulting in six fifth-place finishes.
France, Türkiye and Belgium each claimed two gold medals and one bronze. Host nation Greece did not hear its national anthem but succeeded in setting a new event record with one silver and two bronze medals, compared with just one bronze in 2024.
“It was a strong tournament with excellent organisation. The competition was intense, which was exactly the goal, as this was the final European Cup of the year. Our preparation was solid, and although we did not convert the two finals into gold medals on the first day, the end of the event finds us at the top once again. For Thessaloniki, the federation decided to allow athletes from clubs who wished to participate and the level of interest was clear from the number of competitors. It was a wonderful event and we thank you for the hospitality. Thessaloniki is a beautiful city, even if we did not enjoy it as much as we would have liked because of the competition,” said Giorgi Gvichiani, coach of the Georgian Judo Federation’s national cadet team, commenting on his country’s success.
As the Georgian team soared to first place, Lithuanian judoka Tajus Babaicenko struggled to come to terms with his defeat by Georgia’s Luka Abgaidze in the -90kg final, a category in which the Lithuanian was making his debut at the Thessaloniki Millennium Team Cadet European Cup 2025. Although he secured the silver medal, it was not enough for him, as he admitted shortly after the medal ceremony.
“I have one more year in cadets and decided to move up a category, as I no longer wanted to lose weight to remain at -81kg. It takes time to adjust, although I am working hard to stay at a high level in the -90kg category. In the final, I was ahead by yuko but unexpectedly, and perhaps due to my enthusiasm, I conceded Ippon. I am not happy with the silver medal and I think that was clear at the end of the final. When you aim for the top and things don’t go to plan, you need to reflect and analyse what went wrong. 2025 was a year full of distinctions and medals and I feel my effort was not wasted. I continue to aim even higher in 2026,” said Babaicenko, who this year placed 3rd at the OTP Group Sofia World Championships Cadets 2025 Individuals, 3rd at the Millennium Team European Cadet Championships Skopje 2025 Individuals, 1st at the EYOF Skopje 2025 Individuals and claimed nine medals at EJU European Cups, four of them gold.
Babaicenko was also the athlete who denied Angelos Kostelidis a place in the -90kg final. Ultimately, the Greek judoka secured bronze with a relatively comfortable victory in the repechage final, breaking the run of fifth-place finishes he had recorded at similar events in both 2024 and 2025.
“I had really been haunted by fifth place in international competitions. The moment finally arrived. We got it relatively easily, I didn’t expect the medal contest to end so quickly. You need the right mentality, strong preparation and no stress to perform in a big competition. Stress is what makes you lose. Next year, I will still be in cadets and I hope for even greater achievements,” said Kostelidis.
Greece’s second medal of the day came from Georgios Bountaniotis in the -81kg category, also a bronze.
“I can’t believe it. I think it was the best moment of the year. It was all I needed to finish U18 on a happy note. For three years, my coach and I have worked very hard. This year I also had exams, so from September onwards I balanced both as best I could, but everything came together in the end. In the final, the support from the stands gave me courage, and even though I fell, I said, ‘I will see this through to the end,’ and the best possible result was achieved. When I went down by waza-ari, I felt low mentally but I had the opportunity to catch my opponent’s arm. When I saw it, I took advantage, gave everything I had and succeeded,” said Bountaniotis.
Between 24 – 26 November, the Thessaloniki EJU Cadet Training Camp 2025 will take place in the city, featured on the official EJU calendar.
Author: EJU Media