Tbilisi 2026: Italian Judo Team Faces Treacherous Draw in European Championship Quest

Tbilisi, Georgia — As the judo world descends upon the Georgian capital for the 2026 European Judo Championships, the Italian national team finds itself staring down a challenging road to the podium. While the Azzurri arrive in Tbilisi with high ambitions and a deep roster, early reports indicate a bitter draw that could force several top Italian contenders into premature clashes with elite opponents.

The tournament, scheduled to run from April 16 to April 19, transforms Tbilisi into the epicenter of continental judo. The stakes are immense, with a field featuring eight Olympic champions, 33 Olympic medalists, 21 world champions, and 34 previous European titleholders. For Italy, the objective is clear: match or exceed the standard set during the 2025 campaign.

A Balanced Squad with High Expectations

Italy arrives in Georgia with a delegation of 18 athletes, split evenly between nine men and nine women. Technical Director Raffaele Toniolo has emphasized the completeness of the squad, though he acknowledged that the path to gold will be complicated by a few key injury absences. Despite these gaps, the leadership remains confident in the team’s growth trajectory.

The benchmark for this expedition is the 2025 European Championships held in Podgorica, Montenegro. During that event, Italy secured a record eight medals, a feat that now serves as the baseline for success in Tbilisi. To repeat or surpass that tally, the Italians will need to navigate a bracket that appears, by all accounts, to be particularly insidious.

The Quest for the ‘Triplete’: Alice Bellandi’s Historic Goal

While the team goals are paramount, the individual spotlight shines brightest on Alice Bellandi. Competing in the -78 kg category, Bellandi is chasing a milestone that would cement her place in the annals of Italian sport: the “Triplete.”

For those unfamiliar with the term, the Triplete refers to the rare achievement of winning the Olympic, World, and European titles within the same competitive cycle. Having already secured gold at both the Olympic Games and the World Championships, Bellandi needs only the European crown in Tbilisi to complete the set. This proves a pursuit of a historic triple that puts immense pressure on her performance over the coming days.

Note for readers: In judo, the competitive cycle typically aligns with the four-year Olympic quadrennial, making the synchronization of all three major titles an extraordinary feat of consistency and dominance.

Roster Shifts: Basile Steps In

The Italian camp has had to make tactical adjustments due to injury. One of the most significant changes is the return of Fabio Basile to the -73 kg category. Basile has been called up to replace the injured Manuel Lombardo, a move that replaces one high-caliber athlete with another. Basile brings a wealth of experience to the tatami, providing the team with a veteran presence in a weight class known for its volatility and depth.

The Road Ahead in Tbilisi

The atmosphere in Tbilisi is expected to be electric, particularly given the strength of the host nation, Georgia, which has a storied history of success in the sport. The combination of a hostile home crowd for the Georgians and a hard draw for the Italians creates a high-pressure environment for the Azzurri.

The Italian strategy will rely on the ability of their 18 representatives to maintain composure through the early rounds, where the “treacherous” nature of the draw is most likely to manifest in early-round matchups against seeded opponents.

Key Event Details

• Event: 2026 European Judo Championships
• Dates: April 16–19, 2026
• Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
• Italian Delegation: 18 athletes (9 men, 9 women)
• Primary Goal: Equaling or surpassing the 8-medal haul from 2025

The competition officially begins tomorrow, April 16. All eyes will be on Alice Bellandi’s progress toward the Triplete and Fabio Basile’s ability to deliver in the -73 kg division.

Next Checkpoint: Opening bouts initiate April 16 in Tbilisi. Stay tuned to Archysport for live updates and medal counts as the tournament unfolds.