There were high expectations on day four of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2025 for Aleksandra ANDRIC (SRB), who had already claimed a cadet European and World title, as well junior and senior European bronze medals in the -70kg category, and she did not disappoint. In little over one minute, she completed the hat-trick of cadet titles and became EYOF champion, defeating Valerie TOMBOU (BEL) with shime waza, putting her team in second position on the medal table, joining two other gold and three bronze.
Bronze medals went to Ana BESKER (CRO) and Isabel BOB (ROU).
Lithuania finished in fifth place on the medal table, with a stellar performance from Május GENYS (LTU) who doubled up following a win in the Cadet European Championships. The -90kg athlete felt his performance wasn’t as strong as four weeks ago, nevertheless he executed a textbook o soto gari, the spinning momentum wheeled Giorgi ZURABASHVILI (GEO) over for the ippon score.
It was Artur MAKARENKO (UKR) and Sieve GRIEDE (NED) who placed third in the -90kg categroy.
Genys set the ball rolling for those who took the Cadet European titles in Skopje in June, in the +70kg category, Emma FEUILLET–NGUIMGO (FRA) defeated Antea AJDUKOVIC (CRO) with some nifty ashi waza, but it was her gripping strategy that ensure the ippon score.
Both Kristyna KASZPEROVA (CZE) and Milica RADAKOVIC (SRB) came back from semi final losses to claim their respective bronze medals in the -70kg category.
Finally, it was time for the +90kg men, with CSERMAK Daniel (HUN) stepping on the tatami to defend his title he took four weeks earlier. In his opening contest, he suffered an injury and it was questionable whether or not he would be able to continue to the next round, but after some medical attention, he was able to accomplish his goal.
An uchi mata against Azriel DEKENNE DIFFO (FRA) gave him a waza ari score and he landed straight in to osaekomi to conclude the contest and retain his champion status.
Bronze medals in this category were won by Ioane ABALAKI (GEO) and top seed, Subhan AKHUNDOV of Azerbaijan. The latter added to the grand collection for Team Azerbaijan that allowed them to finish top of the EYOF medal table.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen