Győr Gives Young Judoka a Weekend to Compete, Learn and Dream Bigger

The EJU Judo Hopes Tournament in Győr brought together 556 young judoka from 24 countries for a weekend built around competition and learning. Across the U14 and U16 age groups, the event showed why this series matters so much in youth judo: it offers not only medals, but direct access to elite knowledge.

From 29 to 31 May, the Olympic Sport Park in Győr was full of activity. More than 100 coaches were also on site, and the format went beyond standard tournament action. While matches played out across four contest areas, seminars in the adjoining dojo kept the educational side of the weekend moving at the same time.

That teaching element gave the event a special weight. Misato Nakamura of Japan, a two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion, travelled from the Kodokan Institute to work with athletes and coaches. Europe was represented by Portugal’s Telma Monteiro, a six-time European champion and Olympic medallist, whose experience at the highest level gave the sessions extra significance for the young judoka in attendance.

In Győr, the medals mattered, but the lessons may last even longer.

Hungary’s U14 and U16 programme was also in focus during the weekend. Coach Horváth László explained that these age groups require a different balance, with more attention on technical education and less on the tactical intensity that usually defines junior-level preparation. He now leads the programme alongside Olympic and world bronze medallist and two-time European champion Csernoviczki Éva.

Horváth said the structure of the Hungarian camps is designed around school life as much as sport. Three-day training camps, often held at the Tata Olympic Training Centre, allow athletes to keep developing without missing too much education. According to him, that format gives young judoka a practical way to combine school commitments with regular progress on the tatami.

He also outlined the technical path used in recent seminars. The work began with grip fighting, then moved into transitions to groundwork, before the children practised one of Csernoviczki Éva’s preferred techniques, ko-uchi-gari. It is a clear example of how the programme is trying to build strong basics at an age when clean execution and understanding combinations are especially important.

That is also why the Judo Hopes Tournament carries real value. Horváth noted that U16 athletes are not yet eligible for Cadet European Cups, so events like this provide a high-level setting that they otherwise would not have. For younger judoka, that means serious international experience and a chance to test themselves while still developing.

For U14 and U16 athletes, this kind of stage can shape confidence as much as results.

When the final medals were awarded on Sunday evening, the host nation had plenty to celebrate. Hungary finished top of the medal table with nine gold, ten silver and fifteen bronze medals. Ukraine placed second with six gold, six silver and nine bronze medals, while Croatia took third with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

The wider picture was strong too. Ten nations won at least one gold medal, and athletes from sixteen countries stepped onto the podium over the course of the weekend. That spread underlined both the scale and the competitiveness of the event.

The Judo Hopes Tournament series will continue in July, with the next gatherings scheduled for Kocaeli, Türkiye, from 10 to 12 July and Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 26 July. After a weekend like Győr, the next young judoka stepping forward will have plenty to aim for.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union