Seventy athletes from four local clubs and a visiting Mauritian team converged at the Roche Caïman dojo on Saturday for the Seychelles Judo Federation’s annual Curtain‑raiser tournament—a vibrant showcase marking the official start of the 2026 competitive calendar. The event, featuring categories from minimes (under‑15) to juniors and seniors, served as both a talent assessment and a community rallying point for a sport still basking in the afterglow of a stellar 2025.
Participants from Grand Anse Praslin Judo Club, Baie Ste Anne Judo Club, Elite Judo Club, and Etoile Judo Club battled across weight divisions, with Etoile eventually edging Baie Ste Anne 4‑2 in a special mixed‑team sideline event. While no overall club champion was crowned, the day produced a slate of individual standouts, including Jash‑Wanta Meriton, Christian Ernest, and Amanda Payet—the latter freshly crowned as Sportswoman of the Year 2025. Federation chairperson Sandra Jeanne used the occasion to underscore the imperative of sustaining recent momentum. “We have shown steady progress over the years,” she said, “and one of our objectives is to help revive inactive clubs.”
The tournament’s results will inform national team selections ahead of regional competitions. More importantly, it highlighted judo’s growing appeal among Seychellois youth, a trend administrators are eager to nurture through expanded outreach and facility upgrades. With a renewed focus on reviving dormant clubs and establishing new ones, the federation aims to convert grassroots participation into consistent international success. For now, the throws and holds at Roche Caïman have set an energetic tone for a year that promises both challenge and opportunity on the tatami.
