Georgia arrives in Tbilisi with belief, depth and home support behind it

As the 2026 European Championships get ready to open in Tbilisi, Georgia head coach Lasha Gujejiani has set the tone for the host team. His message is simple but powerful: competing at home should feel like pride, not pressure. For a squad that already carries high expectations, that mindset could matter a lot once the action starts.

Gujejiani also pointed to something beyond medals. He spoke about the strong relationship with the wider judo family, suggesting that this event is not only about results on the tatami. At the same time, he made it clear that Georgia’s athletes do not need extra pushing for a home championship. The motivation is already there.

Asked about the draw, the Georgian coach did not look for easy routes. Georgia will field a full team in both the men’s and women’s events, and his view was direct: to reach their goals, they must be ready to face anyone. It was a confident response, and one that fits a team entering the championships with serious depth.

One of the most striking elements is the progress of the Georgian women’s programme. The federation has invested in building and promoting that side of the team, and in Tbilisi the delegation includes an athlete in every category, 17 judoka in total. For Georgia at a major milestone event, that is a first, and the federation plans to continue on that path. The rise of world champion Eteri Liparteliani has also given that growth a visible spark.

Georgia is not hiding from expectation in Tbilisi.

The numbers around this team explain why so many eyes will be on the hosts. Georgia arrives with seven athletes in the world top ten, two defending European champions and six former world champions. Gujejiani even joked that he wished visiting teams plenty of silver and bronze medals.

Behind the smile, though, the intention is obvious. Georgia will bring emotion, belief and major quality onto the tatami, and that makes the home team one of the central stories of these European Championships.

Source: EJU_News