Azerbaijan Sets the Pace as Cadet Talent Shines in Bielsko-Biała

The first day of the Cadet ‘Millennium Team’ European Cup in Bielsko-Biała brought exactly what youth judo fans hope to see: strong performances, tense contests and a few deeply personal moments on the tatami.

Azerbaijan finished the day on top of the medal table with eight medals in total: two gold, two silver and four bronze. It was not just about one standout result. The team placed athletes across several weight categories and showed the kind of consistency that keeps them among Europe’s strongest cadet nations.

Kazakhstan stayed close behind in second with one gold, two silver and seven bronze medals. Their depth was clear throughout the day, with multiple judoka reaching the final block and keeping pressure on the leaders from start to finish.

Israel closed the opening day in third place after taking one gold, one silver and one bronze. It was a compact but effective return, built on confident performances and solid medal conversion.

For the host nation, there was also plenty to take from day one. Poland ended the session in eighth place with two silver medals, and although a home gold did not arrive, the local team still gave the crowd several committed performances to get behind.

Azerbaijan made the first move, but the medal race is far from settled.

Among the standout European stories, Dominika Gracova of the Czech Republic claimed victory in the -40 kg category. Her words after the final revealed just how much the result meant. After a defeat in Berlin, she described this win as a comeback and admitted she felt both happy and relieved.

That honesty gave extra weight to the result. Gracova said the hardest part of judo for her is losing, especially in a final or bronze medal contest, and on this occasion she had to manage her own mindset as much as the opponent in front of her.

Another memorable performance came from Austria’s Isabella Stoegmann, who won the -52 kg category. She pointed to a technique she has trained since childhood as the key moment in the final, saying she recognized the opening and decided to commit.

Stoegmann’s gold carried its own emotional layer. She spoke about returning after a long history of back injuries and said she was simply very happy to be competing again. There were nerves before the first contest, but also a clear determination to give everything.

Some of the biggest wins on day one were as much mental as technical.

With another full day still to come, the event remains wide open. Azerbaijan holds the early advantage, but the chasing teams have already shown enough quality to keep the fight alive through the remaining weight categories.

Day two will feature the girls’ -57 kg, -63 kg, -70 kg and +70 kg divisions, along with the boys’ -73 kg, -81 kg, -90 kg and +90 kg categories. If the opening day is any indication, more sharp judo and more big emotions are still on the way.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union