A total of 60 countries and 484 athletes are set to compete at the World Judo Cadets Championships in Sarajevo, with Bosnia and Herzegovina set to hold the event seven years after the previous edition.
Scheduled for five days from Wednesday until Sunday (August 28), 16 judokas will be named world champion in the age category for under-18s at the Arena Hotel Hills venue.
On the last day, there will be a mixed team event too.
Speaking at a draw ceremony today President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Judo Federation Dr Branislav Crnogorac said: “We are still a young federation and relatively new within the European Judo Union and International Judo Federation family and we are proud of it.
“Over the past years, we have organised several European events. That is why we are really happy to welcome again the best cadets for this world event.
“I want to thank the International Judo Federation President, Mr Marius Vizer, for giving us this opportunity again.”
The hosts have the largest team with 32 athletes entered, while Italy, France and Canada have 20 competitors, with 10 men and women.
Japan, who claimed 11 medals including four golds to top the table in 2019 in Almaty, have a trimmed team of five heading to Sarajevo.
Turkey, who were second to Japan in that medal table, have no one entered for the Championships.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have no seeded athletes in the competition, while France and Azerbaijan have three top seeds each.
Russian and Belarusian judokas are able to compete as neutrals, with the International Judo Federation among a handful of International Federations to allow athletes from the two countries to participate in international events.
Gold medallists at the Championships are set to receive €2,300 (£1,900/$2,290).
