Europe’s young judoka leave a real mark in Tbilisi

The 2026 European Judo Championships in Georgia were not only about the established names. A wave of younger athletes used the event to show they are ready for the senior stage. Across several categories, Europe’s next generation turned promise into results.

Izhak Ashpiz made an immediate impression in the men’s -60kg division. The 18-year-old Israeli captured his first continental medal after beating France’s Romain Valadier Picard in the quarterfinals. A semifinal loss to eventual champion Luka Mkheidze did not stop his run, and he bounced back to defeat Ukraine’s Dilshot Khalmatov for bronze.

France had more than one reason to be encouraged. In -73kg, Dayyan Boulemtafes claimed bronze despite having only recently moved into senior competition. His medal match win over compatriot Joan-Benjamin Gaba stood out as a major signal that he is already ready to challenge at this level.

Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou added another strong French performance in -90kg. Facing Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri in Georgia, he stayed composed and scored twice to take bronze. Winning a medal in that setting, against that opponent, felt like another serious step forward in his rise.

Several young Europeans looked completely at home on the big stage.

Serbia’s Mihajlo Simin also delivered a breakthrough in -81kg. The 21-year-old defeated Austria’s Bernd Fasching and former world champion Matthias Casse on his way to the semifinals. Although Timur Arbuzov stopped him there, Simin still left with an important bronze medal.

The women’s -70kg category brought two more emerging stories. France’s Melkia Auchecorne reached the final and took silver after wins over Madina Taimazova and Spain’s Ai Tsunoda Roustant. Switzerland’s April Fohou earned bronze in dramatic fashion, overturning a late deficit against Croatia’s Lara Cvjetko before finishing the contest in golden score with a decisive sasae-style throw for Ippon.

Another eye-catching run came from Estonia’s Emma-Melis Aktas in +78kg. The 18-year-old defeated five-time European champion Romane Dicko and also beat Portugal’s Rochele Nunes. She did not reach the podium, but her performance was still one of the clearest signs that a new group is pushing hard from behind.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union