In the -70 kg category, a familiar face from the -63 kg group in years gone by, delivered a faultless run to gold. Undefeated in 2025, in her new weight category, Szofi Ozbas (HUN) won at the Podgorica Europeans, countering a huge hip throw from Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE) in the final. This completes her set of continental titles: 2017 cadet European champion, 2019 junior and U23 European champion and 2025 senior European champion.
The bronze medals went to world silver medallist Lara Cvjetko (CRO), who defeated world champion Marie-Eve Gahie (FRA), and Aleksandra Andric (SRB), who took victory over 20 year old Tais Pina (POR) after a 9 minute to-and-fro contest.
At the end of the day, Ozbas said, “Here I realised I didn’t have to do anything, I could be here for the love of judo. I can do anything in any moment if I give myself this freedom.”
In the -81 kg category, Tato Grigalashvili (GEO) was the number one seed, hunting for his 5th senior continental title in a row, but it wasn’t to be. He had some tough moments on the way to the final but there it only became tougher!
Timur Arbuzov (IJF) dominated all contests en route to the final. There he performed miracles to avoid Grigalashvili’s attacks while also offering his own brand of judo magic. In one tussle he caught the Georgian for a yuko, after only a minute, and held the score eight to the wire, despite a close call with be penalties. The title was Arbuzov’s.
World champion and Olympic medallist Matthias Casse (BEL) had to settle for bronze after losing his semi-final to Arbuzov and the other went to Tckaev (AZE), who was on the verge of beating Grigalashvili in their semi-final; so close but still so far.
In the -90 kg category, it was 27 year old Christian Parlati (ITA) who emerged victorious. In a field which included world champions Majdov (SRB) and Maisuradze (GEO) and Olympic medallists Tselidis (GRE), Ngayap Hambou (FRA) and Trippel (GER), a prediction for the gold was close to impossible, but the Italian held his nerve all day.
Parlati used uchi-mata to earn the first score but transitioned to the ground immediately and won gold with an unorthodox but very clever armlock, leaving Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou with the silver.
Bronzes went to Fatiyev (AZE) and Ivanov (BUL), leaving Maisuradze and Majdov in 7th and 5th place respectively, both beaten by Ivanov who had a wonderful day!