Ukraine prepares for European Championships in Austria

The Ukrainian national judo team is invited by the Austrian Judo Association to visit the BSFZ Südstadt and spend two weeks preparing for the European Championships in Sofia at the end of April. The delegation consists of 15 people, including 9 athletes - above all Artem Lesiuk (-60), most recently winner of the Grand Slam tournament in Tel Aviv (ISR), and Yakiv Khammo (+100), fifth at the Olympics and World Championships third party “Last week we were asked if we could help. We immediately said yes, providing them with accommodation, a training hall and food - that's a matter of course these days," emphasizes ÖJV President Martin Poiger.

They have been living in an absolute state of emergency since February 24th. Some came directly from the war zone, others traveled from a training camp in Italy. Until the European Championships in Sofia, the Ukrainian men's judo national team is concentrating as much as possible on sporting matters, after that everything is open. “Our exemption for competitions and training only applies until the beginning of May. Then we don't know what will happen," admits national team coach Quedjau Nhabali. “Until last week I was still in the war zone myself, in Kyiv and the surrounding area. As judoka, we looked after elderly people and helped them get food and medicine. We also tried to bring our families to safety, i.e. to the east of the country," says the 31-year-old.

"Of course we are grateful and relieved that we can train and take part in the European Championships. That's what we do best," says Artem Lesiuk. Before the start of the invasion, in mid-February, he celebrated his first Grand Slam success in Tel Aviv. In the last two weeks he has hardly exercised at all. "We were busy with other things. Only now, in the south of the city, can we concentrate on the European Championships in Sofia. The training here helps us to slowly get back into shape,” says the 25-year-old. At the beginning of the week, wife Alla, also a judoka, was able to come to Austria. "It's extremely reassuring. Now I know that she is safe and fine. The training helps both of us to deal with what is happening in Ukraine a little better. Of course, it's also a bit distracting. Otherwise we would be watching the news all day and calling home.”

Is he hoping for a European Championship medal? "It would be nice. They would certainly consider that a success at home. But more importantly, my parents are doing well.”