Author: Royal Spanish Judo Federation
The Pabellón de Carranque hosted the Málaga Junior European Cup 2025 on March 1st and 2nd, one of the most prestigious competitions in the European Judo Union (EJU) junior circuit. With the participation of more than 300 judokas from over 20 countries, the event reaffirmed its growth and consolidation as a key tournament in southern Spain, attracting more athletes each year and increasing its competitive level.
Once again, the tournament highlighted the commitment of the Royal Spanish Judo Federation (RFEJYDA) and the City of Málaga to the development of international judo, providing young talents with a high-level platform to test themselves against the best judokas in Europe.
A high-level tournament with an outstanding Spanish performance
This competition served as an important test for judokas on their path to the highest level, featuring intense and technically demanding matches. The presence of strong teams from France, Italy, Georgia, and Portugal further raised the level of competition, delivering a high-quality spectacle and showcasing the growing prominence of junior judo in Europe.
In this demanding environment, the Spanish team delivered an outstanding performance, securing a total of 12 medals (3 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze), demonstrating the excellent training and development of its young athletes.
Spanish Medallists
Men’s category:
- Silver -81 kg: Tymofii Rudenko
- Bronze -81 kg: Iñaki Baztán Merchán
- Silver +100 kg: Alejandro Rojas Arencibia
- Bronze +100 kg: Rodrigo García Rojas
Women’s category:
- Gold -48 kg: Aitana Díaz Hernández
- Silver -48 kg: Claudia Pla Belmonte
- Bronze -48 kg: Aiora Martín Carriches and África Puente López
- Gold -52 kg: Odalis Santiago Santana
- Silver -52 kg: Mónica Martínez de Rituerto Morillas
- Silver -57 kg: María del Rocío Arcones Montenegro
- Gold -63 kg: Lucía Carpio Fernández
These results confirm Spain’s status as one of the most competitive teams in the junior category, with a squad that continues to achieve success on the European circuit. The Royal Spanish Judo Federation (RFEJYDA) reaffirms its commitment to developing young talent, ensuring that competitions like this serve as a key platform for the next generation of judokas.
A promising future for Spanish judo
Following this successful edition, the Spanish team is already focusing on its upcoming challenges, including the Spanish and European Junior Championships, as well as other events in the EJU circuit.
The Málaga Junior European Cup continues to grow and establish itself as a reference competition in southern Spain, attracting more participants each year and contributing to the development of judo at both national and international levels.
Author: Thea Cowen