The fighters of the Sacred Heart Antanimena School never cease to amaze. Esca finished first in the senior medal table at the end of the All Saints’ Day tournament on October 31 and November 1 at the Ankorondrano gymnasium. The Antanimena club won four gold medals and two silver. In the -52kg girls, Mireille Andriamifehy beat Mirana Rakotovao from AS St Michel in the final and Frederica Ralalaharisoa beat Ashley Angelah Andriama-lala from Costen Judo club Toliara in the -63kg category.
“I fought four fights in a single pool… The hardest was the third against a fighter from St Michel” confided Mireille Andriamifehy, winner of the Mada-gascar cup in April. Among the boys of -81kg, Fetra Ranai-voarisoa won in the final duel against Henintsoa Rakoto-velo of St Michel. And the fourth precious metal of the Esca was delighted by Mahatoky Rabe-miarana who defeated Nicolas Mahafinaritra of the New Atrika Judo Atsinanana. St Michel Amparibe follows in second place in the club rankings, with three golds won by regulars in international competitions, in this case the recent junior African champion Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy at -70kg and Narindra Rakotovao -57kg . On the boys’ side, Lova Mahaisoa Randrianasolo, bronze medalist at the African Junior Summit, beat her teammate Joharinavalona Rasamoe-lina in the -73kg category. The Capricorn school Toliara club completes the podium by snatching two gold medals, by Norah Tieffenbach Ratsiavy -48kg girls, and Sergio Bernardin Karamaly -90kg boys.
Impressive progress
Among the cadets and juniors, Esca won four gold medals against five for St Michel. The team trophy went to the Amparibe club which outclassed Esca by four wins to two.
“An impressive development has been observed on the technical level after the Madagascar Cup… We still have room for improvement in view of the next international events, including the Island Games…” underlines the national technical director, Mamy Andriamasinoro. The first day of Monday was marked by the graduation of nineteen combatants, including one each in 3rd and 4th dan, five 2nd dan and eleven 1st dan. These recipients took the exams on the sidelines of the Mada-gascar cup.
A visually impaired judo demonstration session, represented by Nampoina Rakotoarivelo, against a blindfolded judoka, opened the final phase of the young people. Two other competitions are still on the Federation’s calendar before the end of the year, namely the international tournament in Madagascar on 26 and 27 November. This competition will see the participation of fighters from Reunion and Mauritius. The Madagascar championships for minima, cadets, juniors and seniors will end the season in style on December 28 and 29.
