Same observation for Mina Libeer (IJF12/-57kg). The Gantoise, also in bronze at the Euro, is having the best season of her career. The judoka affiliated with the Merelbeke club won 3 medals this year. After podiums in Sofia, Zagreb and Coimbra, Libeer will fight on Friday with the ambition of getting on the box. As in his 3rd place at the junior worlds in 2017.
Saturday will be the grand premiere of Malik Umayev (IJF137) in a Senior World Championship. The Liégeois made the choice to go down to -73kg. His speed and explosiveness could wreak havoc in this category. The 22-year-old boy asserts his ambitions. Without complexes. “The goal when I go to competition is to win everything!”.
In the queen category of -81kg, they will be two to aim for the podium on October 9th. Matthias Casse (IJF2), the defending champion but also Sami Chouchi (IJF7). The Brussels native is posting excellent stats in 2022. 4 tournaments, 3 medals. Bronze every time! At the Grand Slam in Paris, in Tel Aviv and also at the Euro in Sofia. Chouchi will participate for the 5th time in his career at the worlds. An appointment that has always motivated him.
“Sami has done a lot of preparation” details Cédric Taymans. “He has really given himself the means. There is a real professionalism that has taken hold of him. And he knows where he wants to go. He has often said it… ‘I am world champion! ‘ Now, we’ll see. It’s good to have him in mind because whoever tells me he doesn’t want to do anything at the world championships, I think he’s a loser. And Sami, he’s a winner He is 29 years old. I think he has really taken possession of all his means. Sami is on fire! I think he can really set fire to a championship and we expect a lot from him”.
Sami, it’s fire! It’s a winner!
Two women from Liège will also be on the trip to Tashkent. Gabriella Willems (IJF41) one -70kg one Sophie Berger (IJF55) in -78kg. Common point ? They are both coming back from a serious knee injury. After her long rehabilitation, Gaby Willems resumed competition for the Euro. Today, she continues her comeback with a 3rd participation in the world championships.
Back also for Sophie Berger. At 25, the double Belgian champion has just finished 3rd at the Oberwart Open in Austria. A preparation tournament for the worlds after an operation and 10 months without judo.
“10 months without judo, it was a long time” explains the Liègeoise. “It’s already the second time it’s happened to me. So I’m happy to be back on the competition mats. At my first competition, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t have too much stress. I was good. I’m going to try to have the same state of mind even if it’s a big championship. Of course I’m not going there to walk around”.
On October 11, Toma Nikiforov (IJF8/-100kg) will enter the tournament. The Brussels resident started the season very well with a prestigious success at the Paris Grand Slam. The result is a rib injury that deprived him of the Euro in Sofia. Today, the little sores are behind him, even if the end of his preparation was a little disturbed by shoulder pain. The Belgian already has 2 world medals to his name. The bronze won in 2015 despite terrible arm cramps during an epic duel against the French, Cyrille Maret. And the money after losing in the final of the World All Categories in 2017 against… Teddy Riner. In 2022, he will return to Tashkent. A city that brings back good memories.
“It was there that I won the first Grand Slam of my career last year” remembers the double European champion. “The Uzbeks are going to be waiting for me because I had a little argument with an Uzbek there. The competition is going to be tough, for sure. But it’s still a big goal to achieve because I have really want to be world champion”.
