The European Judo Hopes Tournament has officially kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, Report informs.
Organized jointly by the European Judo Union (EJU) and the Azerbaijan Judo Federation (AJF), the competition is being held at the Absheron Olympic Sports Complex with 289 young judokas from 81 clubs across 10 countries.
Over two days, athletes from Azerbaijan, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Ukraine will compete in the U‑14 and U‑16 categories. Among the participants, 245 are boys, and 44 are girls.
Alongside the tournament, technical seminars are being held from July 24–26, led by Kodokan expert Misato Nakamura, a two‑time Olympic medalist and three‑time world champion, and Olympic medalist Maria Centracchio. The sessions provide participants with insights into modern technical approaches, the subtleties of techniques, and training methodologies.
The European Judo Hopes Tournament is considered one of the most important EJU projects aimed at developing young judokas. It plays a crucial role in expanding international experience, strengthening ties among different judo schools, and nurturing promising athletes for the future.