The Austrian U18 national judo team successfully defended its title at the 2026 OH-DO-KWAN Stiftungs-Cup, held on October 31 at the Siegi-Sterr-Judohalle in Munich-Großhadern. The victory was secured in a tightly contested final against the Swiss national team, where a tie in match points necessitated a final decision based on technical evaluation.
Title Defense in Munich
The tournament featured twelve teams from nine nations competing in the U18 category. Under the guidance of national coach Bernhard Weißsteiner, the Austrian squad navigated through a demanding bracket that included victories over regional and international clubs, such as JC Herkules from the Netherlands, Kuma Judo from Poland, and Budocnost from Montenegro. The team also secured wins against Slovenia, the Nordrhein-Westfalen regional squad, and Team Bayern on their path to the final.
In the championship match, Austria and Switzerland finished the eight scheduled individual bouts deadlocked at 4–4. Per tournament regulations, the officials relied on the “Unterwertung”—the quality and technical depth of the performances—to break the tie, ultimately awarding the title to Austria. Third place was shared between the Slovenian national team and Team Bayern.
Salzburg Athletes Gain Experience
The competition served as a significant development opportunity for two Salzburg-based athletes, Niklas Rauscher and Hermann Klug of the Judoschule Sakura/SSM. Their inclusion in the national U18 roster provided them with high-level international exposure in a team-based format.
For Rauscher and Klug, the event acted as a key performance indicator at the international level. The team format, which requires multiple bouts within a single day, placed a high physical and mental demand on the participants. Coaches emphasized that this environment allowed the young judoka to test their skills under intense competition pressure, marking a step forward in their transition to senior-level international judo.
Tournament Results and Format
The OH-DO-KWAN Stiftungs-Cup is recognized as a platform for junior talent to gain experience against diverse international styles. With twelve teams participating, the structure of the event mandated a rigorous progression through preliminary rounds, quarter-finals, and semi-finals before the final medal matches.
The podium standings for the 2026 event were as follows:
- First Place: Austria (U18 National Team)
- Second Place: Switzerland (National Team)
- Third Place (Ex Aequo): Slovenia (National Team) and Team Bayern
The event concluded with the Austrian team retaining the trophy they earned in the previous cycle. The athletes now return to their respective clubs to prepare for upcoming national and international ranking tournaments.
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