Jagoda Ciupek Powers Through a Wild -57 kg Draw

Jagoda Ciupek stood firm in the -57 kg division as the cadet Judo competition produced shocks, breakout runs and one result many still expected by the end. In a category full of momentum swings, the Polish prospect handled the pressure and moved into the final with authority.

The first major twist came from Zarja Mastnak of Slovenia. She stopped the title hopes of top seed Elif Kilic of Türkiye in a quarter-final result that changed the direction of the weight category. Kilic arrived with strong credentials, including world number seven status and a 2025 Cadet European silver medal, but Mastnak tore up the script.

That win did not turn into a one-off moment. Mastnak kept her level high in the next round and defeated Julia Siemko of Poland, another athlete who had built serious momentum during the day. Siemko began unseeded and worked her way through Pool B with a series of impressive performances, but the Slovenian controlled the semi-final and secured a medal for her team on day two.

Zarja Mastnak changed the whole feel of the category with one upset.

On the other side of the draw, Ciupek gave a very different kind of performance. While surprises were unfolding elsewhere, she moved like a favourite who had no intention of letting the event slip. The second seed, already a four-time Cadet European Cup gold medallist, powered through her side of the bracket and underlined why she is seen as one of Europe’s most exciting young judoka.

Her semi-final brought another fresh name into the spotlight. Sophia Baechle of Germany, unseeded and ranked 66th in the world, reached the first international semi-final of her career after a standout run. It was one of the strongest stories of the day, and even in defeat she left a clear impression. Ciupek, though, was too strong at that stage and ended the German’s charge before it could reach the final.

Ciupek stayed calm while the rest of the bracket kept shifting.

What made this -57 kg story so compelling was the contrast between chaos and control. Mastnak produced the upset that shook the division and then backed it up with another big win. Siemko and Baechle, both unseeded, turned heads with deep runs that showed how open and competitive this level can be.

Still, when the final places were decided, Ciupek had done exactly what top contenders are expected to do. She absorbed the pressure, cut through the noise and kept winning. In a draw packed with surprises, that may have been the most impressive statement of all.

Source: EJU.net