European Judo Championships 2026: Day One Action Hits Tbilisi
The road to continental glory has officially begun in Georgia. Today, Thursday, April 16, the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi serves as the epicenter of the judo world as the 2026 European Judo Championships kick off with a high-stakes opening day. For fans tracking today’s sports TV and streaming schedule, the focus is firmly on the mats in Tbilisi, where the first wave of weight classes is fighting for a spot on the podium.
As Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, I have covered everything from the Olympic Games to the FIFA World Cup, and there is a specific electricity that accompanies the start of a European Championship. The early rounds are often a minefield where top seeds can be upset in a single ippon, and today’s schedule is no exception. The opening day features critical bouts across the -48 kg, -52 kg, -60 kg, and -66 kg categories.
The Battle for the -48 kg Crown
The Women’s -48 kg event has already delivered intense drama at the Olympic Palace. The competition began with 21 competitors from 14 different nations, narrowing down through a grueling series of pools and repechages.
All eyes were on Italy’s Assunta Scutto, the current world champion and world number four. Despite her pedigree, Scutto faced a challenging draw. The path to the gold was fraught with danger, particularly with the threat of Tara Babulfath in the quarter-finals and Shirine Boukli in the semi-finals. In a sport where a split-second mistake determines the outcome, the pressure on the world champion was palpable.
The bracket has now crystallized into a thrilling final. Shirine Boukli and Shafag Hamidova have fought their way to the gold-medal match. Meanwhile, the battle for bronze has seen intense action in the repechage, including clashes between Marina Vorobeva and Tara Babulfath, as well as Tuğçe Beder and Laura Martínez.
One of the most contested moments of the morning saw Sabina Giliazova and Eva Perez Soler locked in a tense semi-final. The bout pushed both athletes to their limits, eventually heading into a golden score period—the sudden-death overtime of judo—where a single score or a decisive penalty (shido) determines the winner.
Men’s -60 kg: Local Heroism in Tbilisi
The home crowd in Tbilisi has had plenty to cheer for in the Men’s -60 kg category. Georgia’s Giorgi Sardalashvili has lived up to the expectations of the local fans, showcasing the technical precision and power that defines Georgian judo.
Sardalashvili secured his place in the final after a hard-fought victory over Azerbaijan’s Aghayev. The match was a tactical chess match, with Aghayev scoring a yuko, but Sardalashvili responded with a critical waza-ari in the closing seconds to seize the momentum and advance.
He will face France’s Luka Mkheidze in the final for the gold. Mkheidze entered the final with significant momentum, securing an ippon to dispatch his opponent and claim the first finalist spot in the category.
The battle for the bronze medals will observe high-level matchups, including Azerbaijan’s Balabay Aghayev against fellow countryman Ahmad Yusifov, and Ukraine’s Dilshot Khalmatov—who advanced via a golden score ippon against Belgium’s Verstraeten—facing Israel’s Izhak Ashpiz.
Italian Ambitions: Scutto and Giuffrida
For the Italian national team, the 2026 championships are a primary target, with a heavy reliance on their female stars. While Assunta Scutto has been the focal point of the -48 kg category, Odette Giuffrida is the spearhead for Italy in the -52 kg division.
The Italian strategy is clear: leverage the experience of their world-class talent to secure multiple medals early in the tournament. The “Azzurra” squad enters Tbilisi with high expectations, particularly in the lighter weight classes where they have shown dominant form in the international rankings.
How to Follow the Action
For those looking for where to watch the events in streaming, the championships are being tracked via live textual updates and official International Judo Federation (IJF) channels. The speed of judo means that results can shift in seconds, making real-time updates essential for fans who cannot be at the Olympic Palace.
Readers should keep a close eye on the transition from the eliminatory rounds to the finals, as the intensity peaks during the gold-medal bouts. The current flow of the tournament suggests a strong showing from the host nation, Georgia, and the powerhouse programs of France and Italy.
Day One Key Results Summary
| Category | Finalists / Key Matchups | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s -48 kg | Shirine Boukli vs. Shafag Hamidova | Final |
| Men’s -60 kg | Giorgi Sardalashvili (GEO) vs. Luka Mkheidze (FRA) | Final |
| Women’s -48 kg | Sabina Giliazova vs. Eva Perez Soler | Semi-final |
| Men’s -60 kg | Dilshot Khalmatov vs. Izhak Ashpiz | Bronze Final |
As the first day of competition draws to a close, the focus shifts to the remaining weight classes and the upcoming days of the tournament. The precision of the Georgian hosts and the resilience of the Italian stars will likely define the narrative of this championship.
Next Checkpoint: Stay tuned for the medal ceremonies for the -48 kg and -60 kg categories and the start of the next round of weight class eliminations tomorrow.
Do you suppose the home-court advantage will carry Giorgi Sardalashvili to gold? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.
