Poznań set for a junior judo weekend as Poland’s talents chase bigger goals

Poland steps into the spotlight on the European judo calendar this weekend with a busy double programme. While the Radom EJU Kata Tournament runs alongside it, Poznań hosts the next stop on the European Junior Tour — the kind of event where new names start to feel real.

After an encouraging showing from Poland’s young athletes at the Warsaw European Open, the energy now shifts to the junior generation. In Poznań, 283 judoka from 21 nations will take to the tatami, bringing a mix of national pride, international rivalry and the raw ambition that makes junior contests so intense.

For the host team, competing at home is about more than comfort. It’s a genuine opportunity to collect ranking points and to measure progress against a deep field. European Cup competitions are where experience is built the hard way: close decisions, tactical discipline, and learning to manage pressure when every score matters.

This is the stage where “potential” has to turn into performance.

Poland arrive with several athletes already producing results this season. Mateusz Waćko (-100kg) comes in after taking gold at the Sarajevo Junior European Cup, and he returns to Poznań with unfinished business after placing third here last year. Seeded number two in his category, he has been open about his aim to climb to the top step on home soil.

Sandra Walendzik (-48kg) has shown steady high-level form, earning bronze at both the 2025 Cadet World Championships and the Cadet European Championships. Amelia Ptasińska (-70kg) also brings strong credentials, including victory at this year’s Casablanca Junior African Cup and previous podium finishes on the cadet world and European stage.

Women’s junior head coach Magdalena Korfanty called the Poznań European Cup the first major test of the year for such a large group of Polish juniors. Beyond immediate results, she noted its importance for evaluating development and as part of the qualification pathway towards the 2026 championship events. The action can be followed live on JudoTV.

Source: EJU_News