Author: Uğur Çatalkaya
The Antalya ‘Millennium Team’ Cadet European Cup, held at Antalya Sports Hall on 7–8 March 2026, welcomed 550 athletes from 21 countries for two days of high-level competition. As one of the key events on the European cadet calendar, the tournament offered young judoka an important opportunity to gain international experience and test themselves against strong opposition.
The second day coincided with 8 March, International Women’s Day, marked by Turkish Judo Federation President Sezer Huysuz presenting flowers to female athletes, referees and staff. He emphasised the importance of the cadet category in athlete development, noting that international competitions play a key role in strengthening both the technical skills and mental resilience of young judoka.
One of the standout performances came from Hatice Tuana Balcı (TUR), who claimed gold in the women’s +70kg category. Reflecting on her achievement, Balcı described the medal as the result of years of dedication.
“This medal is a symbol of the years of effort, discipline and dedication I have invested. It is not merely a medal; it is also proof that I believed in myself through every training session and every challenging period. At the same time, it serves as a great source of motivation, showing me that I can achieve my goals and representing an important step on the path toward them.”
The semi-final proved to be her toughest challenge of the day against Nini Dzagania. Balcı credited her success to the constant support of her coach, Murat Koca.
“The most important factor that led me to success was the constant support of my coach. His consistent belief in me and his refusal to give up on me always pushed me one step further. His confidence in my ability to succeed gave me strength and ensured that I never lost my determination.”
Although it was her first competition of the year and she admitted to feeling some pressure, Balcı stepped on to the tatami with belief.
“As this event marked the beginning of the year for me, I felt a certain level of stress. However, I was confident in myself and believed that I could become champion. I tried to compete with that mindset. Even so, I believe I can perform even better but the medal I won was in line with my expectations.”
Author: EJU Media