Armenia finishes without medals on opening day of 2026 European U21 Judo Championships

The European U21 Judo Championships got underway in Podgorica, Montenegro, on September 3. Five sets of medals were awarded on the opening day: in the men's -60 kg and -66 kg categories and the women's -48 kg, -52 kg and -57 kg divisions.

Four members of the Armenian national team took to the tatami on the opening day, but none managed to finish among the medalists.

Azerbaijan produced the best result of the first day, winning two gold medals. Aykhan Mirzazade became European champion in the men's -60 kg category, while Muhammad Musayev claimed gold at -66 kg. For Musayev, it was his second consecutive European U21 title.

Athletes representing France, Spain and Slovenia also won one gold medal each. Russia ended the opening day with four medals — one silver and three bronze.

Opening-day results at the European U21 Judo Championships

Men

-60 kg

1. Aykhan Mirzazade (Azerbaijan)
2. Lucien Tixier (France)
3. Danylo Avramenko (Ukraine) and Luka Omanadze (Georgia)

-66 kg

1. Muhammad Musayev (Azerbaijan)
2. Marko Jorgic (Serbia)
3. Abdullakh Parchiev (Russia) and Islam Sultygov (Russia)

Women

-48 kg

1. Claudia Pla Belmonte (Spain)
2. Celine Iddir (France)
3. Sofia Zakharova (Russia) and Patricia Tomankova (Slovakia)

-52 kg

1. Alyssia Poulange (France)
2. Valeria Kozlova (Russia)
3. Marta Beorlegui Oses (Spain) and Alicia Marques (France)

-57 kg

1. Nika Tomc (Slovenia)
2. Alice Martellacci (Italy)
3. Clarisse Carillon (France) and Hili Zakroisky (Israel)