Kaja Kajzer triumphs at home in the iconic U63kg division

Kaja Kajzer took the spotlight in Ljubljana on Saturday, winning the European Open in the U63kg category on home soil. One day after Andreja Leski announced her retirement, it would be premature to call Kajzer a direct successor, but the victory reinforced her standing as Slovenia’s leading contender for the next Olympic cycle. Seeded top and ranked world number 21 in the draw, Kajzer managed the expectations that come with being the home favourite and delivered Slovenia’s first European Open gold. Her route included wins over France’s Manon Agati-Alouache and the Dutch Nadia Krachten, a quarter-final victory against Germany’s Bettina Bauer, a semi-final over Spain’s Ariela Sanchez Benitez, and a final triumph against Kazakhstan’s Esmigul Kuyulova, the tournament’s second seed. At 26, Kajzer already owns results on bigger stages: last year she won the Grand Prix in Upper Austria and beat Olympic finalist Prisca Awiti and former Olympic champion Rafaela Silva, who had recently claimed Grand Slam gold in Paris. The Los Angeles 2028 qualification period will require sustained excellence, but Ljubljana is a meaningful step. Source: judoinside.com