European juniors shine in tense Portimão finale

The 2026 Portimão Junior European Cup wrapped up after two intense days packed with action, nerves and high-level junior judo on Portuguese tatami. The second day brought seven weight categories, three for women and four for men, and once again it was Europe’s young talents who controlled the spotlight.

On International Women’s Day, the -48kg category delivered the emotional story of the day. Spain’s Claudia Pla Belmonte, already a familiar winner in Portimão, climbed back onto the top step just like she did in 2025. Coming off a frustrating performance at home in Spain only a week earlier, this gold felt like the perfect reset for her season and her confidence.

From frustration at home to gold abroad, Pla Belmonte turns her week around.

She admitted that the whole day never truly felt comfortable, but she still found a way to win every contest. The final was an all‑Spanish clash against a teammate who knows every detail of her game, making it a tense battle where a single exchange could have changed everything. In the end Pla Belmonte held her nerve, showing that sometimes winning on a “complicated” day says more than an easy run.

In the men’s +100kg category, Italy’s Emiliano Rossi produced the standout result. He marched through his draw and celebrated visibly once the gold was secured, closing a unique chapter in Portugal. After taking bronze as a cadet in Coimbra in 2024 and silver as a junior in Portimão in 2025, this title finally completed his personal medal collection on Portuguese soil.

Rossi turns Portugal into his full-medal playground.

The final medal table turned into a duel between Italy and Spain. Both nations finished with four gold and four silver medals, but Italy edged ahead thanks to eight bronzes against Spain’s six, while Sweden claimed third place with two golds and confirmed its rising status in Europe. To mark International Women’s Day, organisers handed a yellow rose to every woman in the venue, a small but clear tribute to their importance in judo and beyond.

The junior circuit now moves on to Poznań for the next European Cup stop.

Source: EJU_News