National Judo Championships Day 1: Highlights & Results

Judoka Julie Beurskens became Dutch champion for the third time in Almere. She was just a little too strong for Shannon van de Meeberg in the exciting final of the -57 kg class.

There were also no big surprises in the other lower weight classes.

The most spectacular title battle on Saturday was in the class up to 57 kilograms, where Beurskens only defeated Van de Meeberg in the added time in a nerve-wracking battle.

Beurskens also became Dutch champion in this class in 2022, after which Van de Meeberg took the title in 2023 and 2024. In the final, Beurskens struck in extra time: with two penalties to her name, she got a yuko on the board with an inward leg throw.

The VAR still had to be involved to see whether the technology had been used inside the mat, but the images left no doubt about that.

Previously, Naomi van Krevel, winner of the bronze at the European Championships in Podgorica, had shown no mercy to Shanice Luis in the final of the class up to 52 kilograms. The all-powerful Van Krevel needed only 39 seconds for an ippon.

In the lowest weight class (-48 kg), Amber Gersjes only had to beat an opponent to crown herself champion. She did that convincingly.

In the absence of Joanne van Lieshout, the 2024 world champion and bronze medalist at the European Championships in 2025, Kamile Nalbat was the best in the class up to 63 kilograms. She defeated Naomi Rottier in the final.

Hilde Jager, who said goodbye to the class up to 70 kilograms and lost weight to compete in the class up to 63 kilograms from now on, just missed out on the bronze.

She was ahead for the entire match against the young Joni Geilen, until she conceded a controversial yuko in the final seconds.

In the under 60 kilogram class, the title went to Haarlemmer Jason Wong for the third year in a row. In the final it was certainly not made easy for him by Bart Weling, but in the added time a hold from Wong was enough for the golden score.

One of the two bronze finals pitted the brothers Selil and Kayra Uyar against each other. The eldest brother (Kayra) was the boss of his younger brother.

Just like last year, Jochem van Harten was the best in the class up to 66 kilograms. In the final, 21-year-old Van Harten was too strong for Luca Richardson.

Ivo Verhorstert had little trouble with 17-year-old Morris Zwiers in the final of the class up to 73 kilograms.

He already had two yukos and a waza-ari on the scoreboard and finished in style by also putting Zwiers on his back with six seconds to go.

With that ippon, the 24-year-old Limburger, who has had injuries after three years, completed his bingo card (all scores in a game).