Ukrainian cadets headline packed European Cup weekend in Poreč

The Millennium Team Cadet European Cup in Poreč once again delivered a showcase of Europe’s next judo generation. With 721 athletes from 29 countries filling the Sport Hall Zatika and five tatami running full speed, the Croatian coastal town turned into a cauldron of non-stop contests for two intense days.

Ukraine stole the early spotlight with a powerful opening day. The team topped the provisional medal table with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals, underlining just how deep their cadet squad is right now. In the U50kg boys’ division, Zoreslav Semenenko took gold in an all-Ukrainian final against teammate Timur Pidkipnyy, while Italy’s Ismael Mehabra grabbed bronze after a same-nation clash with compatriot Ruben Lattanzi.

Ukrainian and European prospects light up the tatami in Poreč.

The U55kg category saw Israel take control, as Omer Mor Barak defeated fellow Israeli Guy Shreberk to secure gold and silver for their delegation. Ukraine still found a way onto the podium with bronze from Vitalii Lykhohliad, keeping the pressure on at the top of the standings. Among the girls, Ukraine struck again in U40kg, where Sofiia Palamarenko overcame Italy’s Giada Tursi in a technically sharp final.

Italy featured consistently throughout the event, especially in the girls’ divisions. In U48kg, Aurora Montalbano claimed bronze against Ukraine’s Tetiana Hlushchenko, while the stacked U52kg and U57kg categories with 53 competitors each highlighted the depth of the female cadet field. Host nation Croatia was close to a day-one medal when Valentina Zivkovic narrowly lost the U52kg bronze contest to Italy’s Matilda Mariello.

Sunday delivered a special moment for the home crowd. In the +90kg category, 17-year-old Croatian judoka Marko Vujica from JK Samobor earned bronze, controlling his fight against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Imran Muhtari by scoring yuko and drawing three penalties from his opponent. The roar inside the hall matched the significance of his performance on home soil.

Georgia emerged as a major force on the final day, with Giorgi Mtchedlishvili taking gold in U73kg and Ilia Zakutashvili winning the +90kg title. Austria celebrated a double triumph thanks to Felix Scheiber in U90kg and Selina Woegerer in U70kg, while Serbia built an impressive medal collection led by +70kg gold for Lucia Pavic and additional podiums for Tijana Zivanovic, Nina Andric, Aleksa Tanasijevic and Ognjen Bojovic.

With huge draws in the boys’ U60kg and U66kg classes and 53 entries in both the girls’ U52kg and U57kg categories, reaching the final block demanded consistency and mental strength. Many athletes will now stay on in Poreč for a three-day training camp, turning a hard-fought weekend into the next step of their cadet judo journey.

Source: JudoInside