Two boys’ weight categories took center stage on the second day of the Millennium Team European Judo Championships Skopje 2025: -66kg and -73kg. Both delivered high-octane action from the very start, with thrilling battles lighting up the preliminaries. By the end, only four stood tall, ready to tackle the final hurdle for glory. So… who were the fearless four?
The final of the -66kg category was a showdown between teammates Tamerlan Nibo (IJF) and Rakhim Khamkhoev (IJF), a true clash of familiar rivals. When opponents know each other so well, contests often head into golden score, and this one was no exception. After nearly seven minutes of intense back-and-forth, Khamkhoev found the opening: a sharp ashi-waza combination, finished with precise te-waza control, sending Nibo to the mat. With a heavy but fulfilled heart, Khamkhoev shared his emotions afterward.
“Of course, I am glad that I became a champion today. Thanks to everyone who supported me. I would like to express special gratitude to all the coaching staff. The emotions are all positive. Still, it is never nice to face your team mate in any circumstances including a final contest, and of course, we both knew each other’s struggles, we had met before. Evidently, my most difficult fight was the final. My opponent is a very skilled judoka. We knew how to ‘wrestle’ with each other, and that’s exactly how it played out.”
When asked what the medal represents to him, Khamkhoev paused for a moment, then replied: “This medal to me is just another milestone, a small step toward my ultimate goal: winning an Olympic medal.” Bronze medallist of the -66kg category are Tomas Otevrel (CZE) and Georg Noges (EST).
The final line-up in the -73kg category featured two familiar faces: Veljko Varnicic (SRB) and Adam Rusnak (CZE). Both had previously battled at the 2024 Cadet Europeans, Varnicic even made the final block, finishing fifth. Since then? A lot has changed. He has grown, climbed a weight class, or two, and today was all about redemption. And redemption it was. Every risk he took proved worth it, showing a version of himself that was stronger, smarter, and fully in control. A clever change of direction during a shaky exchange earned him a yuko lead, which he held onto all the way to the buzzer. Straight off the mat, the question came: How does it feel to be Cadet European Champion?
“It feels amazing. Last year I finished fifth, and now, being the European champion, it’s such a good feeling. A lot has changed since then. I moved up two weight categories. from -60kg to -73kg, and that was a big shift. I have grown physically, put in a lot of training, learned new techniques… it all added up.
“The transition to -73kg wasn’t easy. I grew about 10 centimetres and started competing in this category last October. The biggest difference? The pace. It is not as fast as -60kg, but the opponents are definitely stronger. It’s a different kind of fight.
“Of course, my goal today was to win, but would I have said that with full confidence this morning? I am not sure… but as the day went on, and with the support of my coaches, I started to feel it, like I really had a shot. I come from a small club in Belgrade, Serbia, Trudbenik Kortega, and this medal is not just mine. It is for my parents, my coaches, my friends. They have all played a part. This medal means a lot to me. I have trained really, really hard for this, and to be on top of that podium… it’s just an incredible experience.”
Third place finishers of the -73kg category are Vasil Gamezardashvili (GEO) and Sinisa Miljic (SRB). After day two of the event, the team representing the International Judo Federation leads the overall medal table with a total of four golds, one silver, and five bronzes. Azerbaijan follows closely with three golds, one silver, and two bronzes. Türkiye currently holds third place with one gold and three silver medals.
Images: Gabi Juan / Carlos Ferreira
Author: Szandra Szogedi