On the weekend of November 23 and 24, Alexandria will “open its gates” to welcome the last Cadet European Judo Cup for 2024, the “Thessaloniki Cadet European Cup 2024”, in which 480 athletes from 30 countries have registered to participate. three continents.
The organization is supported by the Ministry of the Interior (Sector of Macedonia Thrace), the Region of Central Macedonia, and the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
“After almost two years, we have the pleasure and honor, as the Hellenic Judo Federation, to host in Greece and in the city of Thessaloniki a major international judo tournament. The city’s sporting world will have the chance to see many of the future Olympians up close as the tournament brings together some of the sport’s biggest names under the age of 18.
The Alexandrio Melathros of Thessaloniki will experience great moments on the weekend of November 23-24, while our city will welcome more than 1,500 visitors, since almost 500 sportsmen and women from 30 countries will take part in the tournament.
As the president of the Hellenic Judo Federation, but also as a Macedonian, I feel lucky that such an important tournament will take place in a city that has produced great sportsmen and women that has highlighted Greek judo from time to time”, said the president of EO Judo, Dimitris Michaelidis.
Greece, naturally, will have the largest presence in the tournament with a total of 81 athletes. The participation of Sofia Matzirides stands out, who in 2024 has won three medals (one gold, two silver) in the U18 European Cup.
Specifically, she was first last April in Telavi, while last March in Antalya and last May in Goigol she took second place.
Eight global miners in Thessaloniki
From Lima and Zagreb to Greece and Thessaloniki. Eight medalists from the last two U18 World Championships will compete for a place on the winners’ podium at the final European Cup of the year.
From the eight, the name of GIVISHVILI Giorgi (Georgia) stands out, who was named world champion in Lima in 2024, while a year earlier he was third in the corresponding event, always in the U66kg category. He still has two medals in European championships under his belt, namely the silver this year in Sofia, but also the bronze in 2023 in Odivelas, Portugal.
Also, his compatriot BAKHTADZE Tsotne, last year in Zagreb was second, while this year he was limited to seventh place in the U73kg category.
In the women’s category, AUREL Mathilde (France) was on the second step of the winners’ podium at the Lima event, while in Zagreb she was ranked fifth in the same category. At the level of European championships, the French champion in 2024 was second in Sofia, while in Portugal in 2023 she was ranked fifth.
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