Three weeks to go until the European Judo Championships Seniors Zagreb 2024. The entry is closing end of this week which means in a matter of days we will have a rough idea of the final line up for this prestigious event. As the last bit of the countdown begins, Arena Zagreb is ready to host Europe’s supreme from 25-28 April. Precious 700 points on offer for all winners towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
No secret that the Croatian team will be led by two-time world champion Barbara MATIĆ. The 29-year-old judoka from Judo Klub Pujanke in Split won bronze at the last European Championship in Montpellier. For many years now, the local audience had the opportunity to watch the best judoka from all over the world in Zagreb via their annual Grand Prix event. In three weeks’ time, they will be served with EJU’s prime event. Matić expressed her thoughts on competing home soil during an interview with the Croatian Judo Federation last week;
I don’t know the words to describe it, every athlete knows what it feels like to fight in front of the home crowd. Croatia has great fans, all for one – one for all, and that always gives me an additional motivation and wind at my back. I have the experience of performing in Croatia at the IJF Grand Prix Zagreb, listening to the national anthem in my homeland, in front of my family, friends and fans… Indescribable! I don’t like to forecast results, of course I hope for the best possible outcome, I plan to give my best in front of the home fans!
Vice President of the Croatian Olympic Committee, Director of Education at the International Judo Federation and President of the Croatian Judo Federation, Dr Sanda ČORAK, is also excited to host the biggest judo event of Europe.
It is with immense pleasure and great excitement I wish everyone a warm welcome to the European Judo Championship in Zagreb, hosted by the Croatian Judo Federation. It is an honour to welcome athletes, coaches, officials and spectators from all over Europe to this prestigious event. Judo embodies the spirit of discipline, respect and fair play, and the European Championship serves as a platform for the best judokas to showcase their skills, determination and sportsmanship. This year, we are proud to host this extraordinary event in our city of Zagreb, which is adorned with a rich cultural heritage. The competition is even more special because it takes place just a few months before the Paris Olympics.
Croatia is already known as one of the most desirable tourist destinations and thanks to the continued effort of the Croatian Judo Federation, it is also the most popular depot for top judo events in the continent. Their team is trained to the smallest detail. The very same team have already successfully carried out almost a dozen of Olympic qualifications, many European championships for the youth, Olympic training camps, Judo Festivals and European cups. This experienced team has been coordinated by Secretary General of the Croatian Judo Federation and Vice President of the European Judo Union, Mr. Hrvoje LINDI for many years, whom also expressed his thoughts;
Everything is ready, we are proudly counting down! We are less than a month away from the biggest competition for our judoka. We work diligently, sometimes even late into the night, but we are all extremely motivated by the European Championship, so there is always an atom of energy. About 300 people were involved in the implementation of the competition itself, who will be remembered for having organized the first ever senior Europeans in Croatia. Judges, drivers, volunteers, logistics, administration are just some of the positions where the organising committee works meticulously to make all this happen. On this occasion, I would like to thank the entire team for their exceptional contribution to the European Championship, and to wish for our national team members as much success as possible!
Tickets are available to purchase via the following link.
Schedule
Author: Szandra Szogedi