Tbilisi on the horizon: -52 kg brings a three-way chess match, -66 kg sees Finland in pole position

The Senior European Judo Championships Tbilisi 2026 are getting closer, and two divisions already feel like they’re vibrating with pressure: women’s -52 kg and men’s -66 kg. Europe’s depth is a big part of the hype here, with so many proven medal threats packed into the brackets.

In -52 kg, the storyline starts with Kosovo’s long-running hold on the category. Distria Krasniqi arrives as the reigning European champion, carrying a legacy that has defined this weight for a decade. Still, Tbilisi isn’t shaping up as a one-name show, because two Olympic medallists are right there with her: France’s Amandine Buchard and Italy’s Odette Giuffrida.

In -52 kg, timing may matter more than reputation.

Giuffrida adds an extra layer of danger as the 2024 world champion, and she’ll also be making her 13th senior European Championships appearance—experience you can’t fake. The numbers between the top contenders are fascinating: Krasniqi has the edge over Giuffrida across their meetings, while Buchard holds a strong head-to-head record against both. That kind of triangle turns every potential quarter and semi into a final-level fight.

And the chase pack is very European, very real. Hungary’s Pupp Réka and Gyertyás Róza bring serious credentials, while Naomi van Krevel and Ariane Toro Soler return as part of last year’s podium mix. With seven of the world’s top ten expected on the tatami, the margin for error is basically gone.

In -66 kg, the headline twist is Finland at the top of the seeding. Luukas Saha doesn’t get that spot on vibes—he’s backed it with a 2024 world bronze and a 2025 European bronze. But he’ll be chased immediately by the reigning champion Daikii Bouba, with all Podgorica medallists returning, including Murad Chopanov and Walide Khyar.

In -66 kg, one early draw can flip the entire medal picture.

Home favourite Vazha Margvelashvili raises the temperature even more. Despite being a two-time European champion and an Olympic silver medallist, he comes in unseeded, meaning danger could appear anywhere in the bracket. Bouba and Saha may land on the same side, and Saha holds a narrow head-to-head advantage. Add Bouba’s recent wins over Margvelashvili on the Grand Slam circuit, and you’ve got a division where control, chaos, and a breakthrough all feel possible—streamed live on JudoTV.

Source: EJU_News