France topped the individual medal table at the European Judo Championships Juniors in Podgorica and then retained the mixed team title with a 4-3 win over Russia on 6 September. The three days of individual competition, held 3–5 September, produced 14 titles spread across seven nations, with France finishing clear of the field.
Video: official promotional film for the 2026 Junior European Championships, released before the event by the European Judo Union — not footage of the mixed team final. Open on YouTube
France back on top of the individual table
The French delegation finished with four gold, three silver and five bronze medals — 12 in total — to take first place in the individual standings. Azerbaijan followed in second with three gold and two bronze, while Spain completed the top three with two gold and two bronze. Seven countries celebrated at least one Junior European champion in Podgorica, and 18 nations collected at least one individual medal.
For France the result carried particular significance: it was the first time the country had led the Junior European medal table since 2021.
Individual champions
Men: Aykhan Mirzazada (Azerbaijan, -60 kg), Mahammad Musayev (Azerbaijan, -66 kg), Danylo Kravchenko (Ukraine, -73 kg), Stevan Sadiku (Montenegro, -81 kg), Suleyman Shukurov (Azerbaijan, -90 kg), Nikita Yudanov (Spain, -100 kg), Kévin Nzuzi Diasivi (France, +100 kg).
Women: Claudia Pla Belmonte (Spain, -48 kg), Alyssia Poulange (France, -52 kg), Nika Tomc (Slovenia, -57 kg), Leila Mazouzi (Slovenia, -63 kg), Chloé Jean (France, -70 kg), Zlata Suprunenko (Russia, -78 kg), Léonie Minkada-Caquineau (France, +78 kg).
Mixed team: a final decided in fifteen seconds
Twelve teams entered the mixed team event on 6 September. France powered through the quarter-final 4-1 against Croatia and the semi-final 4-0 against Germany; Russia matched them with 4-0 wins over Italy and Türkiye.
The final reached 3-3 after six contests. The deciding factor was the random draw: France's +70 kg judoka Léonie Minkada-Caquineau had received a direct hansoku-make earlier in the final, so had the draw selected +70 kg, France could not have fielded her and Russia would have taken the title. Instead, -73 kg was drawn, sending Desir Zoba Casi and Abdurakhman Bekeev back onto the tatami in golden score.
Zoba Casi needed only fifteen seconds, launching into harai-makikomi to score the decisive waza-ari and give France a 4-3 victory. It was France's fourth Junior European mixed team title, putting them top of the all-time standings.
The bronze medals went to Georgia and Ukraine. Georgia recovered from 1-3 down against Türkiye, levelled at 3-3 and won the deciding contest after -90 kg was drawn; Ukraine defeated Germany 4-1.
Georgia to host in 2027
The 2027 Junior European Championships will be held in Georgia, with the country welcoming Europe's leading young judoka for the first time at this level.