British Squad Ready for 2025 Junior World Championships in Peru

The wait is nearly over as the 2025 Junior World Championships get underway this weekend in Lima, Peru, from 5–8 October. A seven-strong British squad will take to the tatami, eager to test themselves against the very best junior judoka in the world.

The action begins on Sunday, 5th October, with Chloe Link, Lola Hodson and Charlie Ayre the first to represent British Judo.

Chloe Link (Relentless Judo) has been one of Britain’s most consistent competitors in the -57kg category this season. She has medalled at five consecutive Junior European Cups – in Poznan, Kaunas, Berlin, Prague and Birmingham – a clear reflection of her hard work and progress since joining British Judo’s World Class Performance Programme.

Although she suffered a setback at the Junior European Championships, going out in the opening round, Link is determined to bounce back and return to the form that has defined her year so far.

Lola Hodson (Dragons Academy) has also enjoyed an excellent season in the -52kg category. She claimed silver medals at the Kaunas and Birmingham Junior European Cups, bronze medals in Poznan and at the Tunis African Open, and topped the podium with gold at the Tunis Junior African Cup. Most recently, she secured 5th place at the Junior European Championships.

Hodson has proven she can perform against the very best, regularly finding her way to the podium, and she will be aiming to do the same in Lima.

Charlie Ayre (Tees Valley Judo) rounds out the opening day for Britain in the -60kg category. He has found great form in 2025, starting with his first-ever Junior European Cup Gold medal in Birmingham before going on to place 5th at the Junior European Championships. That result marked a big step forward from his 7th-place finish the previous year, showing his steady progress.

With strong momentum behind him, Ayre will look to make another breakthrough on the world stage.

The second day of action, Monday 6th October, will feature Junior European Champion Irakli Goginashvili, Ben Levy and Eryk Neumann.

Irakli Goginashvili (Palavani) will lead the squad in the -73kg category. He has enjoyed a superb season, winning gold at three Junior European Cups and at the Junior European Championships, while also claiming bronze at the Malaga Junior European Cup and the Podgorica Senior European Cup. These results show he can deliver at both junior and senior level.

Ranked number two in the world at junior level, Goginashvili will be aiming to add a world title to his European crown.

Ben Levy (Budokwai) has also had a standout season in the -73kg category, often competing alongside Goginashvili and ensuring Britain has two major contenders in the division. Levy has taken gold at the Berlin and Kaunas Junior European Cups and at the Warsaw European Open, while also recording a 5th-place finish in Poznan and 7th in Graz.

At this year’s Junior European Championships, Levy finished 5th, just missing out on a medal, and he will be determined to step onto the podium this time.

Eryk Neumann (Hardy Spicer 83) will compete in the -81kg category. He earned bronze at the Kaunas Junior European Cup for the third year running and also placed 5th at the Birmingham Junior European Cup. At the Junior European Championships in Bratislava, Neumann delivered an impressive opening-round win but was unable to progress further. His performances throughout 2025 have underlined his ability and secured his selection for Lima.

To round out the British squad, Nicole Wood (Bishops Stortford) will take to the tatami on Tuesday, 7th October, in the -70kg category.

Wood has had a strong year, picking up silver medals at the Malaga and Kaunas Junior European Cups, bronze in Istanbul, and a 5th-place finish in Poznan. At the Junior European Championships, she faced a tough first-round draw and was unable to progress, but she will use that as motivation to bounce back strongly at the World Championships.

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