Belgian judo was at the party this Saturday, during the penultimate day of the Grand Slam in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition to Matthias Casse, who has long been used to podiums in under 81 kg, Malik Umayev (-73 kg) and Gabriella Willems (-70 kg) have indeed won a medal which confirms their very good start to the season and reassures them in view of the next Olympics.
Umayev, 22, who after having tried the adventure in less than 81 kg where he won a bronze medal in Antalya last April, has wisely gone back down to the lower category since this summer after realizing that he had no (yet) nothing to hope for with Matthias Casse and Sami Chouchi in front of him. A decision quickly rewarded since, after finishing 7th at the Zagreb GP in July, and despite his 92nd place in the world, he brilliantly climbed on his first podium at this level. Beaten in the quarter-finals by Azeri Heydarov (IJF 3), the Visétois got off to a great start via the repechages before winning against Uzbek Yuldoshev (IJF 9) in the “small final” on waza ari.
“It was a very hot match”, explains Cédric Taymans, the French-speaking sports director, forced to give up his place as coach at the last minute to Nicole Flagothier due to a positive covid control. “We were right to spare Malik a fortnight ago by not sending him to Abu Dhabi because he was suffering from lumbago. He recovered brilliantly in Baku. He is someone who is capable of beating everyone! »
Gaby Willems (IJF 24) was part of Abu Dhabi where she had won silver, and the Liégeoise did it again in Azerbaijan. A second consecutive medal which should give her a little more confidence after her cursed year 2021 where she had missed the Games due to a tear in the ligaments of the knee. After notably beating the reigning world vice-champion, the Croatian Cvjetko (IJF 6), by ippon in the quarter-finals, she only lowered her flag in the final against the Dutch van Dijk (IJF 2), her beast black (0-5 in direct confrontations).
“Gaby is now on her way to the Masters (in Jerusalem, from December 20 to 22), her next goal, and she hasn’t stolen it,” Taymans adds.
Matthias Casse (IJF 2), for his part, after a relatively easy course, had to bow in the final of the under 81 kg, against Azeri Mollaei (IJF 7) on waza ari in the golden score. The ex-Iranian, who had also briefly fought for Mongolia after fleeing his country, remains, at 30, a particularly tough opponent…
