Tallinn European Open 2026 Becomes a Big Stage for Estonia’s Next Generation

The Tallinn European Open 2026 was more than an elite judo tournament for Estonia. In the capital, the event brought top-level competitors together with young judoka, families, and volunteers, turning the weekend into a shared moment for the whole Estonian judo community.

Behind the international contests, there was also a strong local story. Young judoka and family members helped make the event happen, while the competition itself created a rare meeting point between established athletes and the country’s rising talents. That mix gave the tournament a special energy that clearly meant a lot to everyone involved.

On Saturday evening, 6 May, the European Open podium was also used to honour the Estonian Judo Association’s Youth Cup champions. For the young winners, being celebrated in the same elite setting as senior athletes made the ceremony unforgettable.

Estonian Judo Association President Ruslan Jakimov described the weekend as a rare and powerful experience. He underlined how meaningful it was for local fans to watch judoka with Olympic, world, and continental medals, while Youth Cup winners received their awards in the same atmosphere. For Estonia’s young athletes, the message was simple and strong: they belong on that tatami too.

In Tallinn, youth judo was not watching from the sidelines.

Some of the most honest reactions came from the children themselves. Sebastian Mettis, winner of the U10 -40 kg category, called it a special day, especially because his coach and father, Juhan Mettis, had previously stood on the podium at this tournament. He said he loves to wrestle and feels proud of himself, adding that his favourite technique is sumi-gaeshi, even though he is not yet allowed to use it in competition.

Hendrik Tennokese, winner of the U12 +55 kg category, felt the impact of the elite event in a different way. From the same home club where European Open champion Emma-Melis Aktas began her journey, he watched the senior action with full attention fixed on her performance. He said he was cheering for her with all his heart and came away impressed not only by the throws, but also by how skilfully athletes escaped dangerous situations. For him, the experience was both exciting and motivating.

Lisetta Rooden, who won the U14 -52 kg category, said standing on the same podium as elite judoka made her feel incredibly proud. She also pointed to the influence of her coach, Mattias Kuusik, whose own success in judo has added to her motivation to one day compete at a high-level tournament like this.

Miia Sabalson, winner of the U16 -52 kg category, described her moment on the podium as a reminder that progress matters. Standing in the same environment as Aktas did not make her nervous, she said, but instead reinforced the feeling that she had achieved something important on her own path.

There was also support and perspective from outside Estonia. Olympic champion and Belgium team coach Nora Gjakova offered advice to young judoka, reminding them that judo is a long journey. Her message focused on balance, resilience, and the need to keep coming back after both wins and losses.

The awards were presented by Olympic bronze medallist Denis Vieru, EJU Vice President Catarina Rodrigues, and Ruslan Jakimov. In Tallinn, the medals mattered, but so did the image of one generation stepping onto the mat while another showed them what might come next.

For Estonia’s young judoka, this was more than a medal ceremony.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union