Aurora Ferro shines as Italy takes control in Faro cadet judo

Aurora Ferro and Italy set the tone on day one of the Faro ‘Millennium Team’ Cadet European Cup 2026. In Portugal, the lighter weight categories opened the event with fast, technical judo and a level of intensity that never felt small despite the divisions on display.

The opening programme featured girls in -40, -44, -48 and -52 kg, alongside boys in -50, -55, -60 and -66 kg. Across those eight categories, Italy was the clear leader, taking six gold medals and even sweeping the entire -55 kg podium.

That dominance gave the day a strong Italian stamp, but one of the biggest individual stories came in the girls’ -44 kg category. Aurora Ferro stepped onto the tatami for the final against Fenne Peeters of the Netherlands, who was chasing a third straight gold medal. Ferro met that challenge head-on and finished on top of the podium.

Her result also carried a personal edge. After taking bronze last year, she arrived in Faro with a different goal and delivered on it. Ferro summed up her performance simply, pointing to character, technique and tactics as the factors that made the difference.

Aurora Ferro turned last year’s bronze into gold in Faro.

Spain had its own emotional highlight through Hugo Lopez Pereira in the boys’ -50 kg division. The young Spaniard put together an impressive run to the final, including a notable win over world ranking leader Arthur Bonato of Brazil. In the gold medal contest, he was stopped by Italy’s Ismael Mehabra and finished with silver.

Even so, the result meant plenty. Lopez Pereira said he approached the event one contest at a time, without focusing on the name in front of him. That mindset seemed especially important in his match against Bonato, where he explained that he fought without fear and felt the pressure was on the favourite, not on him.

There was extra meaning in the medal because it was his first podium on the European circuit. Competing close to home, Lopez Pereira spoke openly about wanting to do something important after previous events where he had shown promise but fallen short at the end. In Faro, he left with proof of that progress.

Hugo Lopez Pereira claimed his first podium on the European circuit.

The numbers behind the day also showed the scale of the competition. A total of 210 male athletes and 113 female athletes were in action, supported by more than 20 referees as organisers and volunteers helped run another international judo event in Portugal.

At the Pavilhão Municipal da Penha, the atmosphere matched Faro’s reputation for warmth. The Algarve setting brought its usual energy, but it was the action on the tatami that truly lifted the temperature, with sharp attacks, high pace and determined performances from the first contests onward.

The tournament now moves to its second and final day, when the upper weight categories will take over. After such a strong opening session, Faro has already delivered a memorable start to this Cadet European Cup.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union