A New Step for Youth Judo as IJF Adds Cadet and Junior Grand Prix Stops

The International Judo Federation is opening a new path for young athletes with two international events for cadet and junior judoka. The move brings junior and cadet competition closer to the structure, standards and atmosphere usually experienced on the senior circuit.

The first of the new tournaments will be the Hoji Sharif Dushanbe Junior Grand Prix in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, set for 24 and 25 October 2026. An international training camp will follow from 26 to 28 October, giving athletes and coaches extra time on the tatami after the competition ends.

One month later, the new series continues in Uzbekistan with the Saber Tashkent Cadet Grand Prix on 24 and 25 November 2026. That event will also be followed by an international training camp, running from 26 to 28 November.

Until now, the IJF has organised annual world championships for cadet and junior age groups, while many development opportunities have taken place through national and continental structures. These new Grand Prix events create something different: a clearer international bridge for young judoka who want to grow into the World Judo Tour environment and eventually aim for the highest level of the sport.

That matters because experience is not built only through medals. Competing under IJF standards, adapting to the expectations of an international event and learning how to handle a more professional environment are all part of becoming a complete athlete. For many judoka, these tournaments could become an early taste of what senior judo demands.

The IJF also confirmed that the new competitions will offer prize money. For young athletes, that adds another layer of recognition as they begin their international journey and test themselves against strong opposition from their own generation.

Two new tournaments could reshape the early international path for young judoka.

IJF President Marius Vizer welcomed the project as an investment in the next generation of champions. According to the federation, the aim is not only to provide valuable competition experience, but also to encourage sporting excellence and help cadet and junior athletes prepare for successful careers at the top level.

There is also a strong educational side to the initiative. The post-event training camps are designed to bring athletes and coaches together, creating space to exchange knowledge, train side by side and build connections across borders. In a sport that values respect and shared learning, that detail feels especially important.

The training camps may become just as valuable as the medals.

The IJF thanked the judo federations of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for helping bring the project to life. With their support, the federation sees these events as part of a broader effort to strengthen the future of judo worldwide.

The launch of the Hoji Sharif Dushanbe Junior Grand Prix and the Saber Tashkent Cadet Grand Prix signals a fresh chapter for youth judo. It is a practical change, but also an ambitious one: more opportunity, more international experience and a closer connection between young talent and the world they hope to enter.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation