Ciupek’s Home Gold and Babaicenko’s Surge Shape Cadet Drama in Bielsko-Biała

The final day of the ‘Millennium Team’ Cadet European Cup Bielsko-Biała 2026 delivered exactly the kind of energy that keeps this event high on the cadet calendar. From the first contests of the morning to the last medal ceremony, the hall stayed loud, tense and full of momentum as young judoka from across Europe and beyond pushed through with fearless attacks and real determination.

When the tournament closed, Azerbaijan sat at the top of the medal table with two gold, four silver and seven bronze medals. Kazakhstan followed with two gold, three silver and ten bronze, while Ukraine finished third overall on the strength of two gold and three bronze.

For the local crowd, though, the day had one moment that rose above everything else. In the girls’ -57 kg category, Poland’s Jagoda Ciupek took gold and turned the arena into a celebration.

The 15-year-old stepped onto the top of the podium as “Mazurek Dąbrowskiego” echoed through the hall, creating one of the most emotional scenes of the competition. In front of home supporters, Ciupek produced a performance that stood out not just for the result, but for what it meant in that moment.

The loudest moment of the day belonged to Jagoda Ciupek and the home crowd.

After her victory, Ciupek spoke about the emotions of the final and the feeling of hearing the arena respond. She said the applause and standing on top of the podium made it especially meaningful. She also pointed to the work behind the result, explaining that she trains six times a week and that success comes from combining technique, strength, conditioning and randori rather than relying on one single area.

Just as importantly, she made clear that the gold was not hers alone. Ciupek credited the people around her, including coach Jan Mańka, her parents, Mahir Abuldajew, second coach Bartek Naczyński and club president Małgorzata Neuman.

Another major European highlight came in the boys’ -90 kg division, where Lithuania’s Tajus Babaicenko added another international title to his season. Already a gold medallist at the Poznań Junior Cup earlier this year, he once again showed impressive control and maturity on the tatami.

As the day went on, Babaicenko looked more and more settled. According to his own account, the early stages were difficult because he had to move quickly from one fight to the next, but after a few matches he began to feel more like himself. That shift mattered. He said he was then able to use more techniques, adapt differently to each opponent and combine explosiveness with his strengths more effectively.

Tajus Babaicenko kept his winning run alive with another composed performance.

His words after the final captured the mentality behind the result. Babaicenko said he always has gold in his mind, and even joked that between fights he was hungry not only for food, but for the gold medal.

By the time the arena began to empty, Bielsko-Biała had once again underlined why cadet judo can be so compelling. There was home emotion, international depth and another reminder that the next wave of European talent is already making serious noise.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union