Senior and Junior Talent Collide on the Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca region returns to the judo calendar this weekend as La Nucía/Benidorm host the next stop of the European Open Tour on 16–17 May, welcoming a field of 473 athletes from 40 nations across four continents.

Spain leads the entry list with 84 athletes, underlining both the strength of the home nation and the pulling power of this event on the Alicante coast. Germany arrives as the second-largest delegation with 62 competitors, followed by France (41), the Netherlands and Great Britain (31 each), and Israel (30). Brazil, Kazakhstan and Morocco add further international depth, ensuring all 14 weight categories will be fiercely contested across both days of competition.

The men’s draw is headlined by the -66 kg and -73 kg categories, each boasting more than 60 entries and likely to deliver some of the weekend’s most intense action. The -81 kg and -90 kg divisions are also stacked with quality and depth.

On the women’s side, -52 kg and -57 kg stand out with 34 entries apiece, closely followed by -63 kg with 30 competitors. The lighter -48 kg category and the heavyweight +78 kg division feature comparatively smaller draws, though those weight classes are often defined by quality rather than quantity.

The highest world-ranked judoka across all categories is double world medallist Mascha Ballhaus (GER/-52 kg), currently ranked world number three. Also returning to competition is four-time European medallist Catarina Costa (POR/-48 kg), whose last international appearance came at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in October 2025. Portugal will also field double world medallist Barbara Timo (POR/-70 kg), alongside other experienced names including Rochele Nunes (+78 kg).

Several leading junior athletes will also look to make their mark at senior level. Among them are double junior European champion, Savita Russo (ITA/-63 kg) and 2025 junior European champion and world bronze medallist Irakli Goginashvili (GBR/-73 kg).

Notably, the IJF Refugee Team will also be represented, with seven athletes competing across the weekend, serving as another reminder of judo’s commitment to global reach. The competition will take place at the Pabellón Camilo Cano in La Nucía. The event also feeds directly into the Benidorm Olympic Training Camp, which begins on 19 May and is expected to attract more than 900 judoka and coaches from around the world.

With the qualification cycle towards Los Angeles 2028 continuing to gather momentum, every ranking point matters. On a weekend as competitive as this, the margins between those leaving with medals and those going home empty-handed are expected to be razor-thin.