The continental spotlight turned to the Moldovan capital Chișinău from 31 October to 1 November 2025, as Europe’s most promising judoka gathered for the European Judo Championships U23 Individuals organised under the European Judo Union (EJU), the event brought together 308 athletes (172 men and 136 women) from 37 nations across Europe for two days of intense, high-level competition.
Moldova as host: pride and ambition
For Moldova, this championship was more than a sporting event — it was a declaration of intent. The country has quietly built a strong reputation in U23 judo, producing several European medalists over the past decade. Now, as host, Moldova showcased its growing judo infrastructure and passionate sporting culture.
Local favourite Mihail Latisev, the 2024 U23 European Champion in –90 kg, returned to defend his title in front of an electrified home crowd. Though he narrowly missed the podium this year, his presence highlighted the quality of Moldova’s home-grown talent and the depth of its judo program.
The Moldovan Judo Federation received praise from both the IJF and EJU for the smooth organisation, professional presentation, and warm atmosphere that characterised the tournament — reinforcing the country’s standing as an emerging hub for elite judo in Eastern Europe.
Competition highlights and structure
The event featured seven men’s and seven women’s weight categories, divided over two days of competition:
Day 1: Men –60 kg, –66 kg, –73 kg; Women –48 kg, –52 kg, –57 kg, –63 kg.
Day 2: Men –81 kg, –90 kg, –100 kg, +100 kg; Women –70 kg, –78 kg, +78 kg.
Each bracket offered a glimpse into Europe’s next generation of champions, with emerging stars from Georgia, Italy, France, and the Nordic nations producing impressive displays of tactical precision and physical control.
Stand-out performances and new champions
A number of athletes made their mark on the continental stage:
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Vahe Aghasyan (Armenia) dominated the –60 kg division with crisp transitions and tactical awareness, taking gold over Georgia’s Mate Gogoberishvili.
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Szabina Szeleczki (Hungary) delivered a strong performance in –48 kg to secure Hungary’s first title of the event.
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Manuel Parlati (Italy) impressed in –81 kg with his characteristic explosive style, earning gold and strengthening Italy’s position as one of Europe’s top U23 nations.
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Ingrid Nilsson (Sweden) became one of the weekend’s defining stories — taking the –70 kg title in spectacular fashion.
Swedish breakthrough: Ingrid Nilsson’s golden performance
Sweden’s Ingrid Nilsson, aged 20, captured the hearts of spectators and delivered a historic result for her country. Competing in the –70 kg division, Nilsson showed her great strength, which is her aggressiveness and her ne-waza throughout the day.
In the final, she faced Ukraine’s Olha Tsimko — an experienced and physical opponent — but quickly took control of the contest. Nilsson scored waza-ari after just 90 seconds with a perfectly timed o-uchi-gari combined with upper-body control, and from there she maintained the advantage until the buzzer.
Her journey to the gold medal was equally impressive. Nilsson defeated Portugal’s Tais Pina in the quarter-finals with a decisive counter-throw, and then, from two scores against, overcame Ukraine’s Anna Oliinyk-Korniiko in the semi-finals by taking advantage of a mistake securing a hold down for Ippon.
Nilsson’s title marks a milestone: she becomes only the third Swedish woman ever to reach the final — and the second to win gold — at the U23 European Championships. Her victory provides both inspiration and momentum for Sweden’s younger generation of judoka, who continue to gain international recognition.
Ingrid Nilsson — Sweden’s rising star
| Name: | Ingrid Nilsson |
|---|---|
| Country: | Sweden |
| Age: | 20 (2025) |
| Weight class: | –70 kg |
| Club: | Frövi JK |
| Coach: | Sally Conway & Viktor Carlsson |
| Major titles: | U23 European Championship gold 2025, EYOF gold 2022, Cadet World Championships bronze 2022, Cadet European Championships bronze 2021. |
| Style: | Her judo is built around a strong left-handed over-the-back grip, with an offensive approach focused on both forward and backward attacks (such as o-soto-otoshi and uchi-mata), as well as effective transitions into newaza. |
| Next goal: | To win the European Open in Italy this coming weekend (November 2025)! In the coming years: to compete in senior-level competitions, win gold at both the European and World Championships, qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games, and win Sweden’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in judo. |
Nilsson’s success underscores a positive trend for Scandinavian judo — with Sweden, Denmark, and Norway all fielding increasingly competitive young athletes at European and IJF events.
The broader impact on European judo
The U23 category plays a crucial developmental role within the sport’s ecosystem. It bridges the gap between junior and senior levels, allowing athletes to adapt to elite-level physicality while refining strategic depth.
For national federations, the Chișinău Championships offered valuable insights into upcoming talent pools and training methodologies. Italy, Georgia, Hungary, and Sweden each left Moldova with renewed optimism for the next Olympic cycle.
Meanwhile, Moldova’s successful hosting set a new organisational benchmark — proving that smaller nations with passion, planning, and strong local support can deliver first-class international competitions.
Looking ahead
As the mats are rolled up and the medals packed away, Europe’s young judoka now shift focus to 2026, where several will enter the senior European and IJF Grand Slam circuits. For many of them, this weekend in Chișinău was not the end but the beginning of a long professional journey.
For fans and federations alike, the 2025 European U23 Championships offered both inspiration and reassurance — a clear signal that the future of European judo remains strong, diverse, and ready to rise.
For complete results and match-by-match details, visit the official IJF results page: www.ijf.org/competition/3099/results.
European Judo Championships U23 Individuals / IJF.org
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