The inaugural Ne-Waza European Judo Championships in Riga marked an important milestone for European judo and provided an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between the European Judo Union (EJU) and the European University Sports Association (EUSA).

EUSA President Haris Pavletic attended the historic first edition of the standalone Ne-Waza European Championships at the BT1 International Expo Centre, following an invitation from EJU President Dr Laszlo Toth.

The event brought a new discipline to the European championship stage, with Ne-Waza – judo's ground-fighting discipline incorporating holds, pins and submissions – taking centre stage.

For EUSA, the occasion was not only about witnessing a new chapter in judo, but also about looking towards future opportunities for university sport.

“The European Judo Union is one of our most important and oldest partners in combat sports,” Pavletic noted, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two organisations. He also expressed his hope that Ne-Waza could eventually become part of the EUSA European Universities Championships, which bring together student-athletes from across Europe each year.

During his visit to Riga, EUSA President also met with EJU President Dr Laszlo Toth for discussions on future cooperation between the two organisations. The meeting explored new opportunities to bring judo and university sport even closer together, including the possibility of developing a new joint project and working towards a renewed Memorandum of Understanding.

A key element of EUSA’s mission is supporting student-athletes beyond their sporting careers. In this context, cooperation with international sports federations such as the EJU can also contribute to the development of dual-career opportunities, enabling talented athletes to combine high-level sport with education and prepare for their future beyond competition. The visit also offered an opportunity to recognise the athletes who made the inaugural championship a success. 

The inaugural Ne-Waza European Championships therefore represented more than the beginning of a new chapter for judo. For EUSA and EJU, it also provided a platform to look ahead and explore how their partnership can create new opportunities for young athletes, strengthen university sport and further promote the values shared by both organisations.