Translated with AI
The capital of Tajikistan will host the Junior Grand Prix judo tournament organized by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for the first time. The first stage of the new competition series, the Hoji Sharif Dushanbe Junior Grand Prix, will be held in Dushanbe on October 24–25, 2026.
The tournament is expected to attract the strongest young judokas from around the world. Participants will compete for ranking points, prize money, and the opportunity to gain international competition experience.
Following the competition, an international training camp for athletes will be held in Dushanbe from October 26 to 28.
The IJF launched a new tournament series with the aim of bringing young athletes closer to the senior World Tour level. This initiative will allow juniors to earn ranking points not only at continental cups but also at Grand Prix tournaments.
Another new feature will be the payment of prize money to the winners and runners-up of competitions. Previously, this practice was primarily used in tournaments for adult athletes.
As IJF President Marius Vizer noted, the new project aims to support and develop the next generation of judokas.
The second stage of the new series will be held in Uzbekistan. The Saber Tashkent Cadet Grand Prix tournament for athletes under 18 will be held in Tashkent on November 24–25, 2026.
