Egyptian judoka Safa Suleiman delivered a breakthrough performance at the 2026 European Open in Ljubljana, securing a silver medal in the +78kg division and marking a significant milestone in her emerging international career.
Competing in Slovenia’s capital as part of the International Judo Federation (IJF) European Open series, the 19-year-old advanced through a competitive heavyweight field to reach the final. The European Open circuit is recognized as a key development tier within the IJF World Tour structure, often featuring internationally ranked athletes and Olympic-pathway contenders.
Suleiman’s campaign in Ljubljana highlighted both technical control and tactical maturity in the +78kg category. Her progression through the preliminary rounds underscored growing confidence at the senior international level, positioning her among Egypt’s promising young talents in women’s heavyweight judo.
In the final, she faced a seasoned Italian opponent in a closely contested match that extended into golden score overtime after neither athlete registered a decisive score during regular time. Despite a resilient effort, Suleiman finished with the silver medal — her most significant result to date on the European circuit.
While Egyptian judokas have previously competed in European Open events, Suleiman’s podium finish represents one of the strongest recent performances by an Egyptian female athlete at this level of IJF competition.
The result reinforces Egypt’s continued development in women’s judo, a discipline that has traditionally seen greater regional success at African Championships. Performances such as Suleiman’s reflect increasing international competitiveness and expanding technical depth within the national program.
Her silver medal in Ljubljana is expected to contribute valuable ranking points and international exposure as she continues her progression within the senior category.
