European Judo Championships Italy Preview: Azzurri Aim for Podium Success in Genoa
Italy’s national judo team is finalizing preparations for the upcoming European Judo Championships in Genoa, where Olympic medalists and emerging talents will compete for continental honors. The tournament, scheduled for late April 2026 at the Genoa Fair and Congress Center, represents a crucial test for the Azzurri ahead of the Paris Olympic cycle.
According to the Italian Judo Federation (FIJLKAM), the squad features several athletes who have previously medaled at European and World Championships, including Olympic bronze medalist Fabio Basile in the men’s -66kg category and world championship medalist Alice Bellandi in the women’s -78kg division. The team will be led by head coach Emanuele Pierantozzi, who has guided Italy to multiple European team medals in recent years.
Key Italian Contenders and Weight Categories
The Italian delegation will compete across all 14 weight categories (seven men’s, seven women’s) with particular strength expected in the middleweight divisions. In the men’s -73kg category, Giovanni Esposito enters the championships following a strong performance at the 2025 World Championships in Abu Dhabi, where he reached the quarterfinals. His compatriot Manuel Lombardo, a 2021 Olympic finalist in the -66kg category, has moved up to -73kg and will seek his first European senior medal.
On the women’s side, world championship medalist Alice Bellandi leads the charge in the -78kg division after claiming bronze at the 2024 World Championships in Abu Dhabi. Her training partner, Giorgia Stangherlin, competes in the -57kg category and has consistently ranked among Europe’s top five in her weight class over the past two seasons.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The European Judo Championships will follow the standard International Judo Federation (IJF) format, with preliminary rounds beginning on April 24, 2026, and finals concluding on April 27. Daily competition schedules typically run from 10:00 AM local time (08:00 UTC) for preliminaries, with final block sessions starting at 4:00 PM local time (14:00 UTC).
The Genoa Fair and Congress Center, located on the city’s waterfront near the historic port area, will host all competition events. The venue has previously hosted international sporting events including volleyball World League matches and indoor athletics competitions, providing adequate warm-up areas, training facilities, and media spaces for the judo championships.
Recent Form and Preparation
Italy’s judo team has participated in several World Tour events during the 2025-2026 season as preparation for the European Championships. At the Paris Grand Slam in February 2026, Italian athletes collected two bronze medals through Basile in -66kg and Stangherlin in -57kg. The team similarly competed at the Tbilisi Grand Slam in March, where Lombardo reached the -73kg semifinals.
According to FIJLKAM’s national training program documentation, the squad completed a two-week altitude training camp in Livigno in early April 2026, followed by tactical preparation sessions at the Olympic Training Center in Rome. The final preparation phase included a domestic tournament in Ostia on April 12-13, 2026, which served as the last opportunity for coaches to evaluate athlete readiness before the European Championships.
Historical Context and Medal Expectations
Italy has a established history at the European Judo Championships, having won a total of 43 medals since the tournament’s inception in 1951, including 8 gold, 15 silver, and 20 bronze. The nation’s most successful recent performance came at the 2023 European Championships in Montpellier, where Italy won four medals (one silver, three bronze).
In the men’s competition, Italy’s last European gold came from Giuseppe Maddaloni in the -73kg category at the 2001 Championships in Paris. On the women’s side, Italy’s most recent gold medal was won by Ylenia Scapin in the -57kg category at the 2002 Championships in Maribor.
Competition Landscape and Key Rivals
Italy will face strong competition from traditional European powers including France, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kosovo. The French team, led by Olympic champions Teddy Riner (+100kg) and Clarisse Agbegnenou (-63kg), typically enters as favorites in multiple weight categories. Georgian athletes have dominated the men’s middleweight divisions in recent years, even as Azerbaijani competitors remain strong in the women’s -48kg and -52kg categories.
The Kosovo team, featuring Olympic medalists Distria Krasniqi (-48kg) and Nora Gjakova (-57kg), presents particular challenges in the lighter weight categories where Italy has historically been competitive. Azerbaijan’s Ulla Ismayilova (-48kg) and Kosovo’s Akil Gjakova (-63kg) represent additional threats in their respective divisions.
What’s Next for Italian Judo
Following the European Championships in Genoa, Italy’s judo team will shift focus to Olympic qualification events for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The next major international competition on the calendar is the World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for September 2026, where athletes will seek to secure valuable ranking points for Olympic qualification.
For the Italian federation, strong performances in Genoa could influence funding allocations and support programs for the upcoming Olympic cycle. The European Championships also serve as an important evaluation point for younger athletes aiming to break into the senior national team permanently.
Fans can follow the competition through the International Judo Federation’s official website and live streaming platforms, with daily highlights packages typically available through European sports broadcasters. The Italian Judo Federation will provide regular updates through its official social media channels and website throughout the tournament period.
The European Judo Championships in Genoa represent a significant opportunity for Italy’s judo program to demonstrate its continued competitiveness on the continental stage. With a blend of experienced Olympic medalists and rising talents, the Azzurri aim to add to their medal tally and build momentum toward future international competitions.
