Judo is back: European Cup in Dubrovnik

The European Judo Cup for seniors in Dubrovnik in Croatia is the first official judo tournament in the world since the pandemic break. The tournament didn’t have many athletes but gave back the spirit of fighting in an official competition.

The positive energy was felt from the very beginning of the first day under numerous epidemiological and safety measures and without spectators in the stands. It delivered winners from five different countries, only Serbia took two titles.

Serbian Nadezhda Petrovic took gold in her category U52kg against Ana Viktorija Puljiz who will also fight at the Croatian championship for juniors in Zagreb next week.

The only Italian participant, Veronica Toniola, took the gold in a new weight category for her, U57kg. In the final she defeated Flaka Loxha of Kosovo. The gold U63kg was for Kosovo though by Laura Fazliu.

In the Gospino polje hall, the best result of the home nation was achieved by Robert Klačar, who placed in the finals of the category up to 66 kg. The gold medal though was for Mateja Stosic from Serbia.

The lightweight title went to David Starkel of Slovenia in a pool of four athletes. Most fighters were lined up U73kg with 14 men. Shigeki Nakamura won the gold medal, fighting for Kosovo. The former Japanese lightweight surprised for Kosovo and claimed the victory in the final against Aleksandar Rajicic of Serbia. Nakamura made a successful debut and won four fights and has a Kosovan citizenship now..

Croatia is meanwhile preparing further sporting events with the European Championship for juniors in Poreč coming up in November followed by the European U23 Championships in the Croatian coast city.