There are still many steps to climb before reaching the senior ranks but the young judoka gathering in Bulgaria already have clear goals in mind. This cadet world championship is a pivotal moment, a true gateway to the top level. The names we discover next week will, in many cases, be those of tomorrow’s champions.
Of course, success at cadet level does not guarantee future glory. Japan’s Hifumi Abe, for example, took part in the 2013 Cadet World Championships in Miami without a podium finish. Yet today, he boasts one of the most impressive records in judo history.
For others, the route to the top has been more straight forward. Uzbekistan’s Diyora Keldiyorova claimed the cadet world title in 2015 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nearly a decade before winning 2024 Olympic gold in Paris. Slovenia’s Andreja Leski was crowned European cadet champion in 2014 and ten years later she too reached a career-pinnacle, taking Olympic gold in the French capital, confirming her nation’s strength in the category. Georgia’s Lasha Bekauri is another shining example. He was cadet world champion in 2017, then junior champion in 2018 and 2019, and today he is a double Olympic champion (Tokyo and Paris).
Others made their mark early as well: Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE), a cadet finalist in 2015, Italy’s Alice Bellandi, seventh the same year, and of course Teddy Riner, who began to make headlines before turning 17.
These stories illustrate the importance of the cadet world championships, which, for the 2025 edition, will kick off in just a few days. The Asics Arena in Sofia will welcome 560 athletes from 72 nations, promising an event of the highest calibre.
It may take close to a decade before the full impact of this new generation is felt at senior level but one thing is certain, in Sofia, we will be witnessing the first steps of judo’s future stars.