The new season of the “Battle of the Cities,” an international project of the Russian Judo Federation and the Cradle of the Fatherland charitable foundation, which is being implemented with the support of the Fonbet company, made a stop in Vyritsa. On the tatami of the Yunost sports complex, the strongest squads of the North-Western Federal District were determined, which will continue to fight in the next stage.
In the Leningrad region, the strongest were determined by 16 teams of boys under the age of 18. Spectators were able to see spectacular judo performed by representatives of St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Pskov, Kaliningrad, Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Novgorod regions, the Republic of Karelia and the Komi Republic.
Four days of competition kept the participants and fans in suspense: the main intrigue was the question of which of the 16 candidates would make it into the coveted “eight” and take a ticket to the second qualifying stage of the “Battle of the Cities 2026”.
The participants were divided into four groups, in each of which an uncompromising confrontation unfolded for the right to continue on the path to the title.
In Group A, the representatives of “Turbostroitel” (St. Petersburg) became the strongest. The second ticket to the next stage was won by judoists from “Fatherland” (Pskov region). In Group B, first place was taken by the Masaru judo club (St. Petersburg). The second ticket to the second qualifying stage was won by the team of SC "Gatchina" (Leningrad region).
In Group C, the leadership was confidently taken by SSHOR im. Rakhlin" (St. Petersburg). Second place and access to the next round were secured by “Flexible Path” (Kaliningrad region). In Group D, the first place went to “Western Rubezh” (Kaliningrad region), and the second coveted spot was won by “Metallurg” (Vologda region).
“Battle of the Cities” continues its journey across Russia. The competitions of the first qualifying stage among teams of the Ural Federal District have started in Chelyabinsk; it will end on May 19. And from May 24 to 27, the strongest will be determined by young men from the Volga Federal District in Saratov.
The grand international final of the second season of the “Battle of the Cities” will be hosted by Moscow in December: 32 teams - 16 Russian and 16 foreign, invited by the organizers, will compete for parts of a substantial prize fund. But a month earlier - in November - the all-Russian final tournament will take place in the capital, where fans will see the best teams of the second qualifying stage.
