The 2026 U21 European Judo Championships officially get underway in Podgorica, Montenegro, bringing together more than 400 young athletes from 44 nations for four days of intense continental competition. Running from September 3 to September 6, the tournament serves as a showcase for the next generation of international judo talent, with delegations from across Europe vying for individual and team titles.
Italy’s national delegation has traveled to the Montenegrin capital with a competitive squad of 17 judoka across various weight classes, according to official announcements from the Federazione Italiana Judo Lotta Karate Arti Marziali (FIJLKAM). The roster features a mix of rising prospects from sports academies and sporting groups nationwide, all looking to test their skills against the continent’s elite.
Weighing In: The Italian Women’s Squad in Podgorica
The Italian women’s team features several notable entries across the lower and upper weight divisions. In the -52 kg category, the nation is represented by Alice Bersellini of Accademia Torino and India Serafini of the Roberto Meloni Judo Academy. The -57 kg division features a double entry with Alice Martellacci representing Kodokan Chieti alongside Giulia Sorelli of Fiamme Oro, as reported by OA Sport.
Further up the scale, Giorgia Frosoni competes in the -63 kg category for Centro Scuole Judo, while Giorgia Grassi steps onto the tatami for Judo Brianza in the -70 kg division. In the -78 kg class, Aurora Mengia (Centro Scuole Judo) and Cinzia Caponetto (Judo Virtus) shoulder the division responsibilities, and Giulia Telesca of the Roberto Meloni Judo Academy rounds out the women’s roster in the +78 kg division.
Men’s Roster and Division Breakdown
The Italian men’s contingent brings eight athletes to the individual brackets in Podgorica. Raffaele Sodano (Fiamme Oro) and Francesco Crociani (Banzai Cortina Roma) open their campaigns in the -60 kg category. The -66 kg division also features a pair of competitors: Alessandro Bicorgni (Banzai Cortina Roma) and Antonio Esposito (Nippon Club).
In the -73 kg bracket, Lucio Tavoletta represents Carabinieri alongside Gabriele Piccolo of Accademia Torino. The remaining weight classes feature Alex Carta of Accademia Prato in the -90 kg division, Francesco Mazzon (Fiamme Oro) in the -100 kg category, and Michele Corsica (Nippon Club) closing out the heavyweight entries in the +100 kg division.
Tournament Schedule and Mixed Team Event
Competition unfolds across four consecutive days at the venue in Podgorica. Thursday, September 3, features action in the -48 kg, -52 kg, -57 kg, -60 kg, and -66 kg categories. Friday, September 4, hosts the -63 kg, -70 kg, -73 kg, and -81 kg divisions, while Saturday, September 5, concludes the individual brackets with the -78 kg, +78 kg, -90 kg, -100 kg, and +100 kg events.
The championship concludes on Sunday, September 6, with the highly anticipated Mixed Team Event. Sara Virgilio of Judo Virtus joins the squad specifically for the team competition in the -70 kg slot, bolstering a roster looking to convert individual talent into a cohesive team performance.
Expectations and Guidance from the Junior Commission
Ahead of the opening bouts, the FIJLKAM Junior Commission expressed strong confidence in the group’s preparation and seasonal output. In an official pre-tournament statement, leadership outlined the team’s overarching mindset: “Arriviamo a questo Campionato Europeo Junior con grande entusiasmo e con la consapevolezza del lavoro svolto durante tutta la stagione.”
The Commission added concrete expectations for the young competitors, urging them to showcase “coraggio, personalità e determinazione” as they face international opponents. Fans and followers can track draws and view live coverage of all bouts throughout the week directly through the official judo.tv platform.
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