Grand Slam Abu Dhabi 2021 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
It seemed only right that in a year that saw Matthias CASSE (BEL) win European, world and Olympic medals the 24-year old Belgian should add to this impressive haul a grand slam gold medal. His opponents in Abu Dhabi appeared to have made a collective decision to concentrate their efforts…
28 November 2021European Mixed Team Championships - Ufa, Russia
The Mixed Teams European Championships 2021 saw two deserving finalists go head to head in Ufa, Russia for the ultimate title. Both Team Georgia and Team Netherlands had given worthy and passionate performances leading to the golden match. This month, an almost identical Georgian team shone in Hungary and took…
27 November 2021Grand Slam Abu Dhabi 2021 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Whatever plans the Italians may have had for representation in the -48kg they will likely require serious changes after 19-year old Assunta SCUTTO (ITA) won gold in Abu Dhabi. In only her second grand slam event unseeded Scutto defeated four seeds on her way to the gold medal. Showing just…
26 November 2021Grand Slam Abu Dhabi 2021 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The draw for the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will take place today and will deliver the verdict for the next three days of competition, the last of the IJF tour in 2021. Kicking off the -60kg category for the European entry is Ramazan ABDULAEV (RUS). Already with three grand slam…
25 November 2021Ippon Gear
IPPONGEAR is celebrating five years of brand history these days. Now it is the time for a new chapter. IPPONGEAR kickstarts a period of new products, sports and services. The German company from Bavaria used the anniversary and the Covid down time to work on strengths and weaknesses. Stefan Kneitinger,…
22 November 2021European Mixed Team Championships - Ufa, Russia
We are now in the 10 day countdown until the 2021 European Mixed Team Championships take place in Ufa, Russia. The Republic of Bashkortostan will welcome 140 athletes from 17 nations hoping to take the team title. This tournament is an exciting event in the calendar and was first held…
18 November 2021As most will know by now, Aris Leonidis suffered a terrible injury in 2020 during the Junior and U23 European Championships in Croatia. This injury rendered him unable to function, breaking his neck, he was immediately operated on in Croatia before returning home to enter an intense rehabilitation programme. It…
18 November 2021The EJU has launched a new platform for job opportunities in Europe. It is the first website that will bring together supply and demand for jobs in Judo. This free service is directed at national federations, regions and also clubs. Everybody can easily upload job offerings. To share the job…
15 November 2021Through the Keyhole
‘Through the Keyhole’ continues this week with Pavel Yasenovsky. Most will know him only in an official capacity during tournaments as an EJU Sports Director. He has been on the circuit for quite some time now. Back in 2005 during the EJU congress, Pavel was elected to the sports commission…
13 November 2021U23 European Judo Championships - Budapest, Hungary
In the opening rounds of the Mixed Teams event, Georgia and Hungary defeated opponents France and Romania 4-2 to take semi final positions. It wasn’t such an easy feat for teams Turkey, Russia, Austria and Germany. All four teams had won three contests each and were sent to a decider…
7 November 2021Grand Slam - Baku, Azerbaijan
Luise MALZAHN (GER) is the gift that keeps on giving. Following her bronze medal win in Paris, she stepped it up a gear and delivered gold in Baku. Though we have mentioned her collection a few times, here is a reminder of her success. Malzahn has secured 22 Grand Prix…
7 November 2021U23 European Judo Championships - Budapest, Hungary
The last day of the individual U23 European Championships went from being the Hungarian fairytale, to a nightmare. The expectation was so great for SIPOCZ Richard to take a third U23 title and throughout the day it looked likely it would happen. Unfortunately for Sipocz he faced the well conditioned…
7 November 2021U23 European Judo Championships - Budapest, Hungary
Having spectators over this weekend in Budapest has been a pleasure given the great time we have been without. It was certainly welcomed by the Hungarian team who performed amazingly, three of whom medalled in the men’s categories. Opening the final block were the -81kg category men, and TOTH Benedek…
6 November 2021Grand Slam - Baku, Azerbaijan
The only all-European final on day two of the Baku Grand Slam involved Vedat ALBAYRAK (TUR) and Dominik DRUZETA (CRO). It was experience that won in the -81kg final. We have seen the extraordinary talent of Albayrak time and time again on the IJF tour as well as continental achievements.…
6 November 2021U23 European Judo Championships - Budapest, Hungary
Andrea STOJADINOV of Serbia stepped up today following time away from the tatami meaning that she missed out on the senior European championships, world championships and finally the Olympic Games. Though she has tested herself already on the IJF tour, she explained she was still dealing with the fear of…
6 November 2021U23 European Judo Championships - Budapest, Hungary
Day one of the U23 European Championships in Budapest delivered as expected, with great judo and great surprises. Early in the day we lost some of the main medal hopes including Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO) and Marica PERISIC (SRB) in the women, Ivo VERHORSTERT (NED) and Petru PELIVAN (MDA) in the…
5 November 2021Grand Slam - Baku, Azerbaijan
It was a gold medal win for 25 year-old PUPP Reka (HUN) in the Baku Grand Slam today, the first of her collection. Though Pupp has recorded multiple accomplishments on the IJF tour as well as a continental bronze in 2021, her performance at the Olympic Games this year is…
5 November 2021There comes a time in every judokas career when retirement looms, whether the path is chosen or forced upon them. In this particular situation we look at the sensational Kata duo from France, Laurent and Michel Jeuffroy. Now holders of multiple European and world titles, they have been an unstoppable…
4 November 2021