Another memorable chapter in the EJU Judo Hopes series was written in Győr, where 556 young judoka from 24 countries came together to compete, learn and grow. Additionally, there were more than 100 coaches present, all gaining valuable experience and countless memorable moments throughout an action-packed weekend.
The mission of the Judo Hopes Tournament is to provide high-level competitive opportunities for athletes in the U14 and U16 age groups. Yet it is far more than a competition. From Friday, 29 May, through to Sunday, 31 May, participants are also given the opportunity to attend technical seminars led by some of the sport’s most distinguished figures, making it a true celebration of judo.
This weekend in Győr, the young judoka were guided by one of the sport’s greatest names, two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion Misato Nakamura of Japan, who travelled from the Kodokan Institute to share her knowledge with athletes and coaches alike. Europe was represented by another judo icon, six-time European champion and Olympic medallist Telma Monteiro of Portugal, whose wealth of experience from the highest level of international competition proved invaluable to the participants.
A Weekend Dedicated to Judo
For two and a half days, everything revolved around judo at the Olympic Sport Park in Győr. While competitions unfolded across four contest areas in the main hall, Nakamura and Monteiro conducted seminars in the adjoining dojo, ensuring that athletes not competing could continue learning and developing their skills.
The battles for medals were fiercely contested and during the competition we spoke with Horváth László, one of the coaches responsible for Hungary’s U14 and U16 national squads. At the end of last year, Horváth was appointed to lead the programme alongside Olympic and world bronze medallist and two-time European champion, Csernoviczki Éva.
Horváth previously served as head coach of the Hungarian junior national team for six years from 2017, before stepping back in 2023 following the birth of his child.
“At U14 and U16 level, we have more domestic training camps and squad gatherings but fewer international trips. That is easier to balance with family responsibilities, so I was happy to take on the role,” explained Horváth. “This year’s programme includes two international tournaments abroad, domestic selection events, training camps and two longer preparation camps.”
Training Around School Commitments
“We usually hold our three-day training camps nearby at the Tata Olympic Training Centre, a venue well known within the judo family because it also hosts the annual EJU OTC camp for senior athletes. Three days is important because many athletes in these age groups are still in school. It can be difficult for them to miss longer periods of education, whereas with this format they only miss a day or so. The camps include mixed training sessions and technical education, and they also provide the foundation for seminars that are open to a wider audience, not just invited athletes.”
He continued:
“This year, the seminars have been led by Éva Csernoviczki and Japanese coach Ken Kaida, who has been working in Hungary for many years. Their technical instruction follows a structured progression. We started with grip fighting, moved on to transitions into groundwork, and most recently the children practised one of Éva Csernoviczki’s favourite techniques, ko-uchi-gari.”
Horváth added that two major training camps are planned for the remainder of the year, one in Baja during August and another in Dunakeszi during the autumn school break in October.
Inspiration for the Next Generation
The Hungarian coach also explained how working with these younger age groups differs from coaching older athletes.
“At junior level there is less emphasis on technical education and more focus on tactics and intensive training camps. For U14 and U16 athletes, perfect technical execution and understanding combinations are much more important. Events such as the EJU Judo Hopes Tournament contribute enormously to that development. It means a great deal to young athletes when they can learn techniques directly from world-class judoka.”
“It is also a huge source of motivation. These athletes have the chance to compete at a very high level. This is particularly important for the U16 category, as they are not yet able to compete in Cadet European Cups. The Judo Hopes Tournament therefore provides valuable experience and many opportunities for success.”
Hungary on Top
With such a large number of participants, competition continued until shortly after 18:00 on Sunday evening, 31 May, when the final medals were awarded.
The hosts had every reason to be satisfied with the outcome. Hungary topped the medal table with nine gold, ten silver and fifteen bronze medals. Ukraine finished second with six gold, six silver and nine bronze medals, while Croatia completed the top three with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
In total, ten nations claimed at least one gold medal, while athletes from sixteen countries reached the podium during the weekend.
The Judo Hopes Tournament series will continue in July, with the judo family gathering once again in two locations: Kocaeli, Türkiye, from 10–12 July and Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24–26 July.
Author: Gombkötő Roland
Author: EJU Media