Salvador Cases, a prominent Alicante-born judoka now ranking among the world’s top competitors, delivered a strong performance this weekend by snagging the silver medal in the under 73 kilogram division at the European Judo Championships held in Montpellier, France. His arc through the event underscored the skill and resilience that fans in North America, including Canada and the United States, have started to follow closely as judo continues to grow in popularity across the continent.
Starting in the early rounds after a bye, Cases demonstrated sharp form by defeating the Bulgarian competitor Tohat Butbul, who sits high in the rankings, before taking down the Italian Giovanni Esposito in a rigorous contest. In the quarterfinals, the Alicante native faced Moldovan Adil Osmanov and secured a victory that placed him squarely in the medal rounds. The semifinal pitted him against Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili, a seasoned veteran in the division, whom he overpowered with an ippon, earning a spot in the final and signaling his readiness to challenge the division’s premier athletes on the world stage.
In the championship bout, Heydarov dictated the pace and applied relentless pressure, leaving Cases with limited options and ultimately claiming the top honors. The result, while a disappointment for the Spaniard, still marks a notable performance that resonates with fans across Europe and beyond, including the North American judo community watching closely as more athletes from the region rise in the rankings.
Last season, the Alicante-born judoka logged multiple podium finishes, including silver at the Portuguese Grand Prix and bronze medals at the Turkey and Abu Dhabi Grand Slams. In 2023, the tally was leaner, with a bronze at the Tbilisi Grand Slam in March standing out alongside solid showings in Baku and Abu Dhabi. These results have helped maintain momentum as he and his team push to convert potential into more consistent hardware as the sport continues to evolve in North America, where national programs increasingly benchmark against European circuits for talent development.
On the team’s broader results, the podiums extended beyond Cases. In the same weight class, other Spanish athletes claimed medals: Fran Garrigós earned bronze in a different category, David García Torné claimed silver at minus 66 kilograms, and Laura Martínez Abelenda earned bronze at minus 48 kilograms. The Spanish squad, seen by supporters in Canada and the United States as a growing power, showed depth across multiple divisions, contributing to a narrative of cross-continental competition that fans and analysts increasingly analyze for insights into training approaches and tactical evolution.
In the under 73 kilogram bracket, Jorge Cano defeated Thelmo Gomes of Portugal before losing to the Finnish judoka Valtteri Olin in the final, illustrating the close margin that often defines high-level judo. Meanwhile, José María Mendiola in the minus 81 kilogram division fell in his opening match against Belgium’s Jarne Duyck. Another Spaniard, Alfonso Urquiza, advanced through the first round in the same category but exited in the next round against Italy’s Antonio Esposito. Cristina Cabaña, competing at minus 63 kilograms, was eliminated early by Slovenia’s Andreja Leski. Sarai Padilla progressed further but ultimately lost to Israel’s Gili Sharir after beating Denmark’s Helen Christensen for third place. The minus 70 kilogram class saw Tsunoda, still a rising world champion, unable to secure a victory in her first competitive outing after receiving a bye in the opening round. These results collectively reflect the broad, competitive landscape that will continue to attract international attention, including North American coaches and athletes who study European tournaments for tactical cues and coaching insights.