Georgi Dadiani, the newly appointed federal technical advisor for judo in the Centre-Val de Loire region, organized a two-day training camp in Châteauroux for young judokas from the Indre and Cher departments. The event, held on April 21 and 22, 2026, brought together approximately thirty children born in 2012 and 2013 to prepare them for upcoming national competitions.
The training session took place at the dojo of AJ Châteauroux, where participants engaged in intensive drills and technique refinement under Dadiani’s supervision. According to local reports, the camp served as preparation for the French Minimes Cup scheduled for May 9–10, 2026, in Clermont-Ferrand.
Dadiani, who assumed his role four months prior to the event, has been actively involved in youth development initiatives since his appointment. His background includes competitive experience at the senior level, with recent results showing a seventh-place finish in the +100 kg division at the Malaga Senior European Cup in October 2023.
Records from the International Judo Federation confirm Dadiani’s affiliation with France and his participation in various international tournaments, including the Abidjan Junior African Cup where he secured first place in June 2023. His career trajectory reflects progression through junior and senior ranks, with documented results in European Cup events and national championships.
Judoresults.net documents Dadiani’s competitive history, noting a second-place finish in the French Senior Second Division Championship in May 2025 as his most recent result, along with a third-place finish in the French Junior Championship in March 2023. The platform lists 28 recorded results in his career, including 19 podium placements and four victories across multiple weight classes.
The Châteauroux camp focused on athletes in the minimes category, defined by the French Judo Federation as competitors born in 2012 and 2013. This age group typically ranges from 12 to 13 years old, aligning with the developmental stage targeted by regional training programs aimed at building foundational skills for future national-level competition.
Such regional preparation camps are standard practice in the French judo system, where decentralized training sessions allow young athletes to access high-level coaching without requiring travel to centralized national facilities. The collaboration between Indre and Cher departments reflects a broader strategy to strengthen talent pipelines in less densely populated regions.
Participants in the Châteauroux session benefited from Dadiani’s direct oversight, which included technical instruction, tactical discussions, and physical conditioning elements tailored to the minimes age bracket. The two-day format allowed for both skill acquisition and recovery periods between training blocks.
Looking ahead, the trained athletes are expected to compete in the French Minimes Cup in Clermont-Ferrand, where they will represent their respective departments in team and individual events. Success at this level often serves as a stepping stone to participation in national championships and eventual inclusion in regional elite development squads.
No injuries or incidents were reported during the Châteauroux training camp, and all activities proceeded according to the planned schedule. The event concluded with feedback sessions for coaches and athletes to assess progress and identify areas for continued improvement before the May competition.
For ongoing updates on youth judo development in the Centre-Val de Loire region and upcoming competition schedules, interested parties are encouraged to consult official communications from the French Judo Federation and regional league authorities.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the athletes involved in the Châteauroux camp is the French Minimes Cup in Clermont-Ferrand on May 9–10, 2026, where they will apply the techniques and strategies refined during the April training session.
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