Sami Chouchi (IJF 32), who last year undertook the difficult task of moving up a category to try to qualify for the Paris Olympics, continued his merry way this Sunday during the Antalya Grand Slam . But in the less than 90 kg category, where he had, for once, benefited from a favorable draw for his first two rounds, he made little progress in the Olympic ranking which will be decisive for going to the Games.
The Brussels resident, after having beaten without much trembling the Argentinian Coto Bersier (IJF 61) on penalties, then the Paraguayan Gini (IJF 267) by ippon on a very beautiful uchi mata after a good minute, then fell on a bone against the Brazilian Macedo (IJF 10). Despite a good start to the fight, Chouchi was surprised after a good minute, being taken to the ground before suffering an arm lock.
In the under 100 kg category, Toma Nikiforov (IJF 22), who occupies the last place directly qualifying for the Games, was also knocked out in the third round. Exempt from the first, he then dismissed the young Uzbek Sarsenbaev (IJF 82) by emerging in the second half of the fight thanks to two waza ari, the last of which on a beautiful outside scythe while he had been trailing for 1 min 30. But against the Canadian Elnahas (IJF 6), after restoring a compromised situation at the last second of regulation time, he ended up getting stuck in the golden score after 50 seconds on a hip movement from his opponent.
For him, as for Chouchi, the long road to the Games will continue from April 25 to 28 during the Euro in Zagreb.
2024-03-31 10:35:05
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