European Championship will be held 9-10th May. Five categories for women five for men. We start with the women’s division..
The – 50 kg lightweight category has been dominated by four times EC Champion Brigita Svinkūnaitė / Lithuania. She will be the favorite in this 15 fighters category, based on the EC record she have – but she will be challenged by more than one fighter.
One of the hardest fighters to face would be Alona Veresniak / Ukraine, European Champion back in 2018 – been on the podium almost every year since. To time winner of the EFKO Tournament EC and do have so much experience frighting foe many year.
BUT this will be a really knife-sharp competition with more than one or two. Oliwia Kurzątkowska / Poland and ⇓ Anastasia Mikhalova / Germany, both established on the podium – Kurzątkowska with her very demanding hard drive to face, Mikhalova, good footwork, movement and intensity in her style. Photo by the never resting: Okiem Sportowca
Lora Devenyi / Hungary and Smilla Shaoru Søborg / Denmark – both young very skilled and competent fighters, manage to qualify to the WFKO – Devenyi in the weight-category above, in other world she have moved down to this EC. Smilla with strong results early, and they seems to keep coming.
Mariana Chaban / Ukraine and Rafaela Tsakiri / Greece, also two fighters who have reached the EC podium. As you see, among the fifteen fighters – quit many have a decent record and will be a factor in the game. It will be tough to reach the podium – hard to win.
Eighteen fighters (at this moment) in the category, with top fighters from several nation involved in the top four battle. If we look back to last year – all the fighters podium 2025 are ready in this line up as well. Reign champion Anna Izdebska / Ukraine. Last year runner up Nika Jakobović / Croatia. Judit Gyenge and Lili Litvák Hungary 3rd place.
Judit Gyenge and Lili Litvák entered the EC podium EKO or the first time last year, and both made a good results in the IBK Ludovika World Cup 2025. Izdebska and ⇓ Nika Jakobović have been on this EC podium several times the late years, but a tough challenge is Mariam Tsiklauri / Georgia – EC Champion of 2024. Photo from pufasfoto.lt visit for more great photos!
Mariam Tsiklauri lost to Lili Litvák last year, as ⇓ Lili Litvák lost to Anna Izdebska – but back in 2024 it was the other way around with Litvák winning in the first fight vs Izdebska. We can go on with same examples – we think it proves how even the top level is, and how small margins will matter.
EC Champion from 2019, Anna Bielska / Poland will bland into this company with ease. Bielska is a world class kicker, highly entertaining style with the perfect mix of Technic and intensity. Photo by the eminent Piotr Sztencel see more: Pi.Sztencel
Further we have fighters from strong nations as Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, who keep a high level national meaning facing these nations will always cost you.
Mirjam Björklund / Sweden. Björklund has been on the podium five time in a row and in the final two times. Picked out to fight in the KCC 2024, and top 8 in last years 1st WFKO World Championships – Has his own unique fighting style, good range and knows how to use it tactically. Good stamina combined with solid experience gives good opportunities.
A solid fighter for many years, ⇓ Solmaz Zeynalli / Azerbaijan is more or less “every time” on the podium. (since 2018) Good all rounded, solid and performs reliably in almost all championships – reached the final in 2018, 3rd last year with Maria Virtudes Estevan / Spain.
Maria Virtudes Estevan / Spain, Participated in the IFK World Championship, and ended 2nd there. 3rd place last year in the EC EKO /WKO lost to Lili Mező i the semi-final. This after secured a win vs a very competent Justyna Vabalis / Lithuania. Both these two can bland into the top, good all-round, brings the fight to you.
Previous years this category has been lead by Lili Mező / Hungary, with a four times a row 1st place. Now she have moved up to the Light heavy-weight category…
This category have one of the absolute strongest fighters in the women’s divisions in total : Ivanka Popova / Bulgaria. In weight categories as well in the Open-Weighs – Popova has been superior. Photo by the never resting: Okiem Sportowca
With Lili Mező coming up in this category, we could get a rerun from the EC Open-Weight final in 2024, where they met in the final. Popova possesses incredible strength and drive in her fighting. Few can withstand the increasing intensity she brings to the fight, more than one top fighter has been grinded down.
With Lili Mező moving up, this category will go from hard to very hard. With her merits in open weight in mind, it will hardly be a noticeable challenge to enter a heavier one. Reach, technique, intensity and not least excellent timing -more? Training with countries outside the European region at a higher level, such as Kazakhstan.
Aneta Meškauskienė / Lithuania took her first EC / EKO tittle last year, after being runner up three times. The veteran have a solid base, tons of experience. Last year’s became controversial and caused some reactions, since the fight (vs Popova) was decided after an alleged blow to the head. But that was in 2025, now there may be a re-match, new cards and new opportunities. In any case, with Meškauskienė’s experience one can expect a podium finish, but to reach the top she have to beat either Popova or Mezo – in the worst case both.
Solid nations like Poland and Ukraine, bring in young fighters – champions of tomorrow. Ukraine with Alina Ostapchuk and Iryna Kavun. Kavun came in 3rd last year,establishing herself in the senior division. Poland with Wiktoria Gajowniczekand and Anna Yaroshynska, Yaroshynska with a WKB EC title in the baggage.
Lithuania will come up with the two favorites in Brigita Gustaitytė and Marija Sekunda. Non of them really need an introduction, establishing themselves in the European top, not to mention the world top. Photo by the eminent Piotr Sztencel see more: Pi.Sztencel
Especially when it comes to Brigita Gustaitytė. But when you are at the top, everyone is hunting you – all the time. The most exciting thing will be how much development each and one have gained since last time. Photo by Edvinas Ivanovas visit for more edvinfoto.lt
With the pro coaching of Edit Abraham in her back, Brigita Gustaitytė, has sharpen every tool. And not to forget the the strategic and tactical capacity that Abraham possesses as a coach – and that and it comes in handy, for example when meeting with performers like Marija Sekunda Photo by Edvinas Ivanovas visit for more edvinfoto.lt
Maria Sekunda will challenge everyone on physical capacity. It lies latent there, again it will be very interesting to see development from last time. This level is so high that you meet athletes who can tactically tame physical capacity – then technique and tactics come into play. Again, a eminent coach behind in Lukas Kubilius.
⇓ Fotó: Szutor Csaba, SHSZ Média
Tóth Csenge / Hungary. As a top fighter, we have defined her as a technically mobile fighter who masters all levels. Purity of style makes it effective, good footwork makes it possible to face bigger athletes – with good results. Jozsef Stefanovics monitors everything and lays out the necessary directions.
Katarzyna Jaśkowska ⇑ / Poland been on the EC / EKO podium four times in a row. 3rd last year, visited the IFK World Championship, and vent all the way to the final ending 2nd. Jaśkowska been fighting the best, and know what this is all about.
⇓ Photo SHSZ Media Szutor Csaba
Winner of U-21 EC in 2024, Henrietta Gergely / Hungary has good juniors results, at step by step growing into the senior division. The U-21 final in 2024 was vs Feyzanur Utlu / Turkey – also in this EC – so we can see strong fighters coming up from the age categories, and ill challenge the rest. Photo by the eminent Piotr Sztencel see more: Pi.Sztencel
Looking at the women’s division in total, we can look forward to several good fights. The seeding will usually limit the big surprises, and make it more predictable. That’s for better or worse. Regardless, fighting is fresh and it’s evolving – and one must praise all the work that is being put in.
