Šutović and Kovinić ready for the challenge in front of the home crowd

Montenegrin judokas Andrijana Šutović and Stefan Kovinić are ready to welcome the European Junior Championships in Podgorica, confident that they can compete on equal terms with the best competitors on the continent.

The championship will start tomorrow, and 404 competitors from 44 European countries are expected to participate.

Montenegro will be represented by nine male and female judokas at the European Junior Championships in Podgorica, and 12 in total, if we count the team that will compete in the mixed team competition on the last day.

Montenegrin judo, in individual and team competitions, will be represented by Đorđe Perišić (up to 73), Mihailo Senić (up to 73), Stevan Sadiku (up to 81), Petar Pajović (up to 81), Matija Marković (up to 90) and Stefan Kovinić (over 100 kilograms) in the men's competition, and in the women's competition by Marija Simić (up to 48), Vanja Guzina (up to 57), Vedrana Praščević (up to 63), Aiša Nurković (up to 63), Andrija Šutović (up to 70) and Vladana Popović (up to 78).

Šutović said that she achieved good results in European cups this year and underwent a quality preparation program.

"I am in good shape and I am ready for the competition. I will do my best to achieve a good result," said Šutović at a press conference.

She emphasized that more than 30 competitors have registered in her category and that she expects extremely strong competition.

"These are the best competitors in Europe, but I know them from European cups and camps. I know what awaits me and I will give my best," said Šutović.

According to her, performing in front of a home audience will be an additional motivation.

"I love performing in front of my audience and it will be an additional boost to show myself in the best light," said Šutović.

She particularly highlighted the three-week training camp in Japan, stating that it was a very meaningful experience.

"The Olympic training camps and the final camp before the European Championships were excellent preparation for what awaits me in Podgorica, but also for the competitions after it," added Šutović.

A member of the Nikšić club Straševina will compete in Podgorica in the up to 70 kilogram category.

Kovinić, who recently won a bronze medal at the Grand Prix in Lima, the first for Montenegrin judo in a competition of that renown in ten years, said that he is looking forward to the championship with great expectations and that he believes that he belongs to the very top of the best European juniors.

"I know I'm capable of it and that I belong to the top. That's how I'm entering this competition, especially because our Federation managed to win the organization of a large and prestigious championship in Podgorica," said Kovinić.

He assessed that the opportunity to perform in a major international competition in front of a home audience is something an athlete may only experience once in their career.

Kovinić said that he would try to perform with minimal stress and maximum focus.

"I will do my best to enter the competition without pressure or stress and to demonstrate my knowledge at the highest level," said Kovinić.

He stated that the Montenegrin national team players had the opportunity to compete with the best through international tournaments, European cups, Grand Prix competitions and training camps.

"I think we belong in that competition and I am sure we will show it," said Kovinić.

A member of the Tivat-based Monte Tatami, who will compete in the over 100 kilogram category, called on the audience to come in large numbers and support the Montenegrin national team.

The European Championship will be held in the Verde Hall. On Thursday and Friday, the preliminary part of the competition will begin at 9:30 am, and on Saturday an hour later.

A mixed team competition is planned for the last day of the championship.

The final blocks are scheduled for every day of the competition at 16 p.m., except on Sunday, when the mixed team final will start an hour earlier.

The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, at 15:30 p.m.