KSC ASAHI Spremberg withdraws women's judo team from Bundesliga

KSC ASAHI Spremberg withdraws women's judo team from Bundesliga

KSC ASAHI Spremberg announced a painful step today: the women's team is withdrawing from the Judo Bundesliga. After seven years, three of which the team played in the top flight, the challenges have become too great. Club president Dirk Meyer emphasizes that this is a “painful but inevitable” decision. The main reasons for the withdrawal are organizational problems, a lack of support and structural difficulties within the Bundesliga system. Niederlausitz Current reports on the background to this decision.

The decline in organizational commitment in recent months is particularly regrettable. No permanent successor to the team leadership could be found after team leader Madlen Oesterreich left her position last year. This situation meant that Austria could only complete the 2025 season on an interim basis. Your commitment to women's judo sport in Spremberg will not be forgotten, and the club would like to thank Austria for this. Despite successful sporting development - the team was able to reach the playoffs for the third time in a row this season - the negative factors outweigh the negative factors. The KSC ASAHI website also cites declining audience interest and the lack of sponsors as additional challenges.

Fight for the future

Finance manager Florian Kadach is committed to better support for the German Judo Association and the Bundesliga committee. He critically notes that a lack of flexibility regarding double events with men's teams has significantly increased the organizational effort. In addition, an extension of the deadline for league registration in 2026 came too late in order to be able to implement the necessary improvements in a timely manner. With the withdrawal of the women's team, only five teams are now fighting in the relay. KSC ASAHI Spremberg will focus on the men's team, which plays in the first Bundesliga. The new season begins in March 2026, and the first home fight is planned for early May in Haidemühl.

Coach Mike Göpfert's goal is to strengthen the squad and expand sponsor support. At the same time, youth work should continue to be promoted in order to strengthen the sporting presence in the region. In its first few years, the women's team recorded impressive development, including a runner-up title in 2021 and 2022. Things went downhill, especially during the pandemic, when the sport of judo came to a virtual standstill in 2020. A bright spot was that KSC ASAHI hosted the final round of the second Bundesliga in 2020 and won the title. The aim was always to strengthen women's judo in Brandenburg and Lusatia.

The withdrawal marks a new chapter for KSC ASAHI Spremberg, which must overcome challenges and seize opportunities in the coming times. The fans are looking forward to the developments and hope for a return to the Bundesliga. The club leadership is determined not to completely lose sight of the women's team.