PSV Duisburg welcomed approximately 350 young judoka to its annual international youth tournament in Hamborn on April 19, 2026, continuing its role as a key fixture in Germany’s judo calendar. The event, held at the Walter-Schädlich-Halle, featured competitors from all German state associations as well as teams from the Netherlands and Belgium competing across six mat surfaces.
The tournament served as a sighting competition for the police sports club, with U-18 national team coach Juan Ignacio Cuneo observing the matches to evaluate potential prospects. According to event organizers, the competition included numerous bouts across multiple weight classes in the male youth U16 division.
PSV Duisburg entered seven athletes in the tournament. Dimitri Radev competed in the -50 kg category, Frants Bochkovskyi in the -55 kg division, and Abubakr Shoev in the +73 kg class. Each athlete secured ninth-place finishes in their respective weight categories after recording several victories during the competition.
Even as pleased with their competitive performances, PSV Duisburg coaches noted that Radev and Shoev fell slightly short of their personal expectations. Both athletes remain eligible for the U16 age group in the upcoming season and will have another opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at next year’s tournament.
The opening ceremony featured prominent local officials, including Landeskriminaldirektor Robert Herrmann representing police president Alexander Dierselhuis as the event’s patron. Oberbürgermeister Sören Link, who practiced judo during his own youth, attended the opening ceremonies and addressed the participants.
Looking ahead to the summer months, organizers emphasized that June will bring the “Großen” competitions – referring to higher-level events that follow this youth-focused tournament in the police sports club’s annual judo calendar. The Duisburg event traditionally serves as an important preparatory competition for athletes aiming to compete at more advanced levels later in the year.
The tournament highlighted the continued strength of youth judo development in the Ruhr region, with hundreds of young athletes gaining valuable international competition experience. For PSV Duisburg, hosting such events reinforces its commitment to nurturing the next generation of judoka while maintaining its historical connection to the sport in the Duisburg community.
As the judo season progresses toward the summer competitions, the performances observed in Hamborn will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of emerging talent across German judo programs. The police sports club’s sighting tournament remains a significant date on the national calendar for identifying promising athletes in the U16 age category.
