From May 12 to May 15, teams from the North-Western Federal District competed on the tatami of the YUNOST sports complex in the Leningrad Region. The judoists demonstrated the highest level of technique and the will to win, fighting for tickets to the next stage of the tournament.
16 strongest teams took part in the qualifying round: Turbostroitel (Saint Petersburg), SC Gatchina (Leningrad Region), Kostomuksha (Republic of Karelia), Severnaya Dvina (Arkhangelsk Region), IC Tosno (Leningrad Region), Masaru Judo Club (St. Petersburg), "Fatherland" (Pskov region), IC "Polar Star" (Murmansk region), "Flexible Path" (Kaliningrad region), "Metallurg" (Vologda region), Judo Club "Iskra" (Novgorod region), "SSHOR im. Rakhlina (St. Petersburg), Atomgrad (Leningrad Region), Everest (Vologda Region), Western Frontier (Kaliningrad Region), Syktyvkar SSHOR (Komi Republic).
The four competitive days in Vyritsa were kept in suspense by the participants and fans: the main intrigue was the question of which of the 16 applicants would get into the coveted "eight" and take a ticket to the second qualifying stage of the "Battle of Cities 2026" tournament.
In group A, the strongest were the representatives of the Turbostroitel team (St. Petersburg), who took first place. The second place and a ticket to the next stage were awarded to judoka from the "Fatherland" (Pskov region).
In group B, the Masaru Judo Club (Saint Petersburg) took the first place. 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 captured by the SSHOR team. Rakhlina" (St. Petersburg). The second place and the exit to the next round were secured by the "Flexible Path" (Kaliningrad region).
In group D, the first place went to the Western Frontier team (Kaliningrad region), and Metallurg (Vologda Region) won the second coveted ticket.
According to the results of the fights, the following teams qualified for the second qualifying stage: Turbostroitel (St. Petersburg), Otechestvo (Pskov Region), Masaru Judo Club (St. Petersburg), Gatchina Sports Complex (Leningrad Region), SSHOR named after Rakhlina" (St. Petersburg), "Flexible Way" (Kaliningrad region), "Western Frontier" (Kaliningrad region), "Metallurg" (Vologda region).
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all the teams for a fair fight!
The battle continues, and the next stop of the first qualifying stage is Chelyabinsk, where the teams of the Ural Federal District will take part from May 16 to 19.