Gabala’s some challengers came on the European Judo Cup in Saarbrucken, Germany. Among them, Karamat Huseynov and Vugar Shirinli, both 60 kg, hit bronze medals. Karamat first beat Teo Raul Hebrard from France before defeating Bas Koffijberg from Netherlands and Florian Pacel from Belgium. Then he lost to Jorre Verstraeten from Belgium in the semifinal. To gain the bronze, he beat also Antuan Bidon from France.

And Vugar beat Pyer Dumontye and Tomas Matyo from France before losing to Jorre Verstraeten. Then he defeated Luka Mkheidze from Georgia and for the third place, he won on Bas Koffijberg from the Netherlands.