Pressure in Tbilisi: Day two lines up three divisions that could explode

Day two of the European Championships in Tbilisi on 17 April turns the spotlight onto three divisions that feel impossible to predict: women’s U57kg, women’s U63kg and men’s U73kg. With world champions, Olympic medallists and long-running matchups packed into one programme, small moments could swing entire brackets. And in Georgia, the home crowd adds an extra layer to every contest.

In women’s U57kg (34 athletes), the arena will naturally orbit around Eteri Liparteliani. Georgia’s first female world champion has already collected European titles at cadet, junior and U23 level, but the senior individual crown is still missing. After finishing runner-up in 2025, this edition feels like the clearest chance yet to complete the set—right where expectations are loudest.

A home title would close the one major European gap in Liparteliani’s story.

But the category is stacked. Sarah-Léonie Cysique remains a major hurdle, owning a strong head-to-head edge over Liparteliani even if their most recent meeting went the other way. Timna Nelson-Levy arrives with both experience and momentum after winning the Tbilisi Grand Slam earlier this year. Add returning medallists like Veronica Toniolo and Martha Fawaz, and the “favourite” label becomes fragile.

Women’s U63kg (23 competitors) may be the day’s wildest ride. Top seed Joanne van Lieshout comes in as reigning world champion, the kind of athlete who can deliver when the stakes are highest. Still, Olympic bronze medallist Laura Fazliu and defending European champion Renata Zachová are right there, and their head-to-head results form a neat triangle that refuses to point to one clear leader. With Zachová unseeded, big clashes could arrive immediately.

The men’s U73kg bracket (41 entries) brings heavyweight narratives. The entire Paris 2024 Olympic podium returns: champion Hidayat Heydarov, silver medallist Joan-Benjamin Gaba and bronze medallist Adil Osmanov. For the host nation, Lasha Shavdatuashvili remains the emotional anchor—an athlete with a full set of Olympic medals and a 14th European Championships appearance that underlines his longevity. Defending European champion Danil Lavrentev represents the new wave, while contenders like Akil Gjakova and Manuel Lombardo add even more danger to an already loaded field.

Source: JudoInside