The upcoming European Judo Cup is set to take place in Podgorica. According to Jovica Rečević, the president of the Judo Federation of Montenegro, this event will serve as a crucial rehearsal for the senior European Championships scheduled for April 23rd to 27th.

Over the weekend, the capital will welcome more than 300 athletes from 29 different countries, as announced by the Judo Federation.

– The European Cup will gather a significant number of nations and competitors; to date, 29 countries from two continents have registered, with over 300 athletes. Organizing such an event is quite challenging, and this is our first time hosting a competition of this magnitude – Rečević shared during a press conference, adding:

– This responsibility inspires us to put in extra effort to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Vice President Marinko Jovović highlighted the considerable work undertaken by the State Railways of Serbia and Montenegro in organizing the event.

– We have a large number of volunteers contributing to the organization, alongside members of the Organizing Committee. Additionally, over 10 delegates from the European Judo Union are present to supervise medical and referee controls and oversee the competition. It’s a demanding task, but we have managed to prepare effectively – Jovović emphasized.

Montenegro will be represented by 47 athletes at the European Cup.

– We do have some health issues affecting a few competitors, but we are optimistic about having a strong team and have legitimate hopes of being in contention for medals – Vukotić stated.

– To secure a medal, typically four to five matches are needed. Our judokas are capable and ready; many may lack experience, but they will have the chance to measure themselves against the best – Vukotić added.

National team member Petar Radović expressed that, despite strong competition, the expectations remain high.

– This competition has never been tougher, but I believe our rigorous preparations and participation in training camps have put us in an excellent position to compete for medals – Radović noted.

Competitions will commence at 10 am on both days, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 pm.

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