The Skopje Senior European Judo Cup 2025, held in Skopje, North Macedonia, on September 20 and 21, 2025, witnessed a remarkable performance by Serbian sisters Jelena and Nikolina Nisavić, who both clinched gold medals in their respective weight categories. The event brought together 265 judoka from 31 nations, showcasing intense competition and emerging talent.
Jelena Nisavić's Golden Triumph in -63kg
On the opening day of the tournament, Jelena Nisavić, aged 21, delivered a commanding performance to secure the gold medal in the -63kg category. Her journey to the top included a swift ippon in her opening contest and a tactical victory against a Norwegian competitor. In the final bout, Nisavić faced Sonja Berr of Germany, where she maintained composure under pressure and executed a superb counter throw in golden score to claim victory. Reflecting on her success, she remarked, 'This win is a big step for me but I know I can always be better. Every match is a chance to learn and now the focus is the Junior World Championships.'
Nikolina Nisavić's Resurgent Victory in -52kg
The Serbian celebration continued on the second day as Nikolina Nisavić, Jelena's sister, made a triumphant return to competition by winning gold in the -52kg category. Nikolina's inspired performance across all aspects of her judo culminated in a victory over Lena Djeriou of Germany in the final, marking her second European Cup title. Overjoyed with her achievement, she shared, 'It was my first competition after a while, and I am so happy because I managed my weight well and won gold. I had the best performance in all aspects of my judo today.' She also expressed immense pride for her sister's success, stating, 'I can say that I am more happy for her (Jelena's) medal than for mine. She is such a good judoka, and she had never won a Senior European Cup before. This gives me even more motivation.' Nikolina outlined her next steps, including the Grand Prix in Lima, Peru, and the U23 European Championships in Chișinău, Moldova.
Serbia Tops the Medal Table
The Nisavić sisters' victories were part of a dominant showing by the Serbian delegation, which ultimately topped the medal table with a total of four gold medals. Other Serbian judokas contributing to this success included Vojin Mandic, who secured the U90kg crown, and Jovana Stjepanovic, who won gold in the U78kg division in an all-Serbian final. The strong performance by Serbian athletes highlighted their growing presence on the European judo circuit.
5 Comments
Bermudez
Securing gold in a European Cup is a significant milestone for any athlete. Still, it's important not to overlook the depth of talent globally, meaning continuous improvement is essential for long-term success.
Africa
Incredible performance by the Nisavić sisters! So proud of their dedication.
Mariposa
It's great to see Serbian judo thriving with four golds, yet the article could have delved deeper into the challenges faced by the other medalists to provide a fuller picture.
Loubianka
The competition might not have been that strong. Need more context.
Muchacha
Another niche sport article. Where's the mainstream coverage?