TOP PLAYER: BASHAEV DISPLAYS BRILLIANCE IN 2021 AND TOPS RANKING

Name: Tamerlan Bashaev Country: Russia Weight category: +100kg Points: 6250  This Russian athlete is a bit of an anomaly in the +100kg category, standing at 5”7, one might underestimate his abilities in the heavyweight arena. Yet here he is, atop of the whole group. It’s a great honour to be…

30 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: MALONGA SEALS PLACE AT HEAD OF -78KG

Name: Madeleine Malonga Country: France Weight category: -78kg Points: 5940 France continue their ruling of the women’s categories with Madeleine Malonga.  The 28 year-old has been securing wins on the circuit for many years but where 2018 European title seemed to be the platform to greatness with a Paris Grand…

29 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: RUSSIA'S BRIGHT FUTURE IN ADAMIAN'S HANDS

Name: Arman Adamian Country: Russia Weight category: -100kg Points: 5744 Arman Adamian has made his mark in this weight category. Even so, he was not the selection for the Olympic Games, instead his team mate, Niiaz Iliasov was selected and took bronze. The talent in this category for Russia alone…

28 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: AGBEGNENOU COLLECTS WORLD AND OLYMPIC TITLES IN 2021

Name: Clarisse Agbegnenou Country: France Weight category: -63kg Points: 7830 After a five year wait, we were finally able to see French superstar Clarisse become Olympic champion after her silver medal success in Rio. It was a beautiful final where the 2016 finalists met again in Tokyo, only this time…

27 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: MATIC MADE HISTORY AND TOPS RANKING

Name: Barbara Matic Country: Croatia Weight category: -70kg Points: 5739 Barbara Matic has graced the IJF tour for quite some time now, collecting medals throughout her career but this was her year.  During the world championships in Budapest, she seemed to be able to do no wrong. Barbara’s great experience…

26 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: YOUNG GEORGIAN GRIGALASHVILI LEADS IN -81KG

Name: Tato Grigalashvili  Country: Georgia Weight category: -81kg Points: 6592 We mentioned that for Georgia there is a revolving door of talent but in some cases there are special individuals who you know for certain will be in the record books for years to come. This particular individual is Tato…

24 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: GJAKOVA REACHED FULL POTENTIAL FOR TOKYO

Name: Nora Gjakova Country: Kosovo Weight category: -57kg Points: 5880 This Olympic champion was a decade in the making. Nora GJAKOVA has been firmly on our radar for many years as part of the small but mighty Kosovo team. Not only did the 29 year-old take her first world medal,…

23 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: THE YEAR OF LASHA SHAVDATUASHVILI

Name: Lasha Shavdatuashvili Country: Georgia Weight category: -73kg Points: 5475 The Georgian team have a revolving door for incredible judoka, and notably many with Georgian heritage represent other nations, so how must it feel not only to be the best of your countrymen, but of the whole community?  Lasha Shavdatuashvili…

22 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: BUCHARD BANKS IMPRESSIVE FOURTH YEAR AS WRL #1

Name: Amandine Buchard Country: France Weight category: -52kg Points: 6520 Here we are again with Amandine, the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist. This is now her fourth year in a row where she has reigned supreme in the -52kg category. Adding to her number one spot in the ranking, 2021 has…

21 December 2021

Matsuru

MATSURU INCLUDED IN THE EJU SPONSOR-POOL

Just before the end of the year, another company joins the EJU sponsor pool. The company MATSURU. The company from the Netherlands was founded in the early 60s and is known for its high-quality judo suits.However, the company also sells a variety of other sporting goods and suits for other…

21 December 2021

TOP PLAYER: KRASNIQI CONQUERS ONE CATEGORY AND SETS SIGHTS ON ANOTHER

Name: Distria Krasniqi Country: Kosovo Weight category: -48kg Points: 6820 After a sensational year of judo, returning to a full tour, seeing European and world championships in full flow as well as a much anticipated Olympic Games in the home of judo, it will certainly be one to remember, and…

20 December 2021

European Club Judo Championships - Europa League (W&M) - Prague, Czech Republic

FRENCH DOMINATE IN PRAGUE

After a long break, the Europa League is finally back. After the 2020 event was cancelled due the COVID pandemic, this years edition took place in Prague. 13 men’s teams and 4 women’s teams have come to the Czech capital to qualify for the Champions League. In the men’s competition,…

11 December 2021

European Club Judo Championships - Champions League (W&M) - Paris, France

GALATASARAY AND YAWARA-NEVA STEAL THE SHOW IN PARIS TAKING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLES

In glorious style, Paris hosted the European Club Championships Champions League 2021, the calibre of talent easily rivalling that of a top IJF event given the star-studded line up.  It was an extremely tough test, but women’s French teams RSC Champigny took their place in the final against Galatasaray Istanbul…

11 December 2021

European Club Judo Championships - Europa League (W&M) - Prague, Czech Republic

EUROPEAN CLUBS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN PRAGUE FOR PROMOTION TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The victors of 2019 may be rallying to decide the champion of champions in Paris on Saturday, but almost 900km away in Prague, Czech Republic, there is an equally star-studded line up preparing themselves to take glory and put themselves in the Champions League 2022.  The Europa League sees hosts…

9 December 2021

European Club Judo Championships - Champions League (W&M) - Paris, France

BEST OF THE TEAMS MEET AGAIN IN PARIS FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

This weekend we have both the Champions and Europa League in Paris and Prague respectively and will see some of the most famed judoka return to the tatami following their Olympic successes to compete on behalf of their clubs.  In Paris, the Champions League hosts great selection of some of…

8 December 2021

Best Practice - Membership Development

BEST PRACTICE - AUSTRIA

Current Situation At the moment they are once again in a lockdown situation, so most of the judo clubs are closed. Sport is only permitted for elite athletes. For Austrian Judo, it is a hard set back, because the season had started off well in September. They lost about one…

7 December 2021

EJU Ordinary Congress - Istanbul, Turkiye

OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS CELEBRATED IN SPECTACULAR GALA EVENING

On Saturday 4th of December, the Olympic champions hailing from the European Judo Union came together to be celebrated for their incredible achievements in Tokyo this year. During a spectacular gala dinner hosted by the Turkish Judo Federation, Distria Krasniqi, Nora Gjakova and Lukas Krpalek stood to proudly accept their…

5 December 2021