Ukraine leaves the biggest mark on day two in Kaunas

The final day of the Kaunas Junior European Cup 2026 ended with Ukraine firmly in the spotlight. Strong results across several weight categories highlighted the team’s impact and underlined its growing presence on the international junior scene.

One of the standout performances came from Serhii Karakin in the -81 kg division. He worked through the field without a defeat and finished the day with the gold medal. His run looked built on more than momentum alone, with preparation clearly playing a major role.

Karakin had recently met his eventual final opponent at an EJU training camp, giving him a chance to study details and shape a tactical plan. Once he came through his opening contest, his confidence rose noticeably. From there, each win seemed to add another layer of belief.

Karakin turned smart preparation into a clean gold-medal finish.

His connection to judo goes back to childhood, when his father introduced him to the sport at the age of seven. He did not enjoy it immediately, but that changed after his first medal. In Kaunas, that long journey came together in a performance full of control and conviction.

Sofiia Hrechka added another gold for Ukraine in the -52 kg category. Her path had a different emotional weight, especially in the final, where she faced a long-time teammate from the same club. Given their history, this result carried extra meaning.

Hrechka said her first contest was the hardest part of the day, while the final demanded everything she had left. Even with support from her coaches throughout the competition, she felt that the decisive answer in the last match had to come from within.

Her next competition is set to be in Austria, a challenge she approaches with excitement. The event itself also left a strong impression, with the Lithuanian hosts delivering a memorable stage for one more lively chapter of European junior judo.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union