Unique medal for Indonesia at Euro Open in Warsaw

Indonesian judoka Maryam March Maharani has achieved a milestone for her country by winning a medal for the first time at a World Cup judo event held on European soil. Maharani previously won silver at the Asian Open in Hong Kong in 2023, but on Saturday, she became the first from her country to secure a medal at a European Open. Competing in Warsaw, she clinched the bronze in the women's -52kg category by defeating Germany's Chiara Serra.

Indonesia has now collected a total of 10 World Cup medals, including a gold medal for Jasleen Singh Saini in 2023 in the men's -66kg category at the Asian Open in Taipei, silver for Maharani in Hong Kong, and eight bronze medals at various continental opens. The first medal was won in 2015 in Wollongong, Australia, by Tiara Arta Garthia. Notably, the five medals are evenly distributed between male and female athletes.

The World Cup circuit has been ongoing since 1989, with Europe being its origin, and these events continue to feature strong competition. In today's event in Poland, there were 21 participants in the -52kg category.

In 1990, Indonesia won its first medal at the prestigious Asian Games. While Indonesia has amassed 21 medals at the annual Asian Championships, they have never secured the gold. Heavyweight Perry Pantauw was the most successful Indonesian judoka in the 1980s, earning four medals during that period.