Published on May 24, 2024 at 7:44 p.m. Aurélien Canot
Severely beaten (4-1) in the final by Japan, the French team had to settle for the silver medal this Friday in Abu Dhabi during the mixed team event of the World Championships. The Blues, deprived of Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbégnénou, were however able to count on Margaux Pinot, titled Wednesday in the -70 kg category.
No offense to the French team, Japan continues its flawless performance in the mixed team event of the Judo Worlds. Before appearing on the Abu Dhabi tatami on Friday for this new final, against the French, the Japanese had achieved an impressive success by winning six of the six titles at stake in this specialty since its integration into the World Championships. Unfortunately for the Blues, these six titles called for a seventh, and there was no shortage of them. On Friday, Japan continued its incredible series by adding a new gold medal to its collection. To make matters worse, it was with a clear score of 4 victories to 1 that the undefeated world champions disposed of the Tokyo Olympic champions (and winners during these 2020 Olympics which were contested in 2021 by these same Japanese ) to once again register their name in the list of winners, while France suffered, for its part, on Friday its sixth consecutive defeat in the final against its worst enemy and at the same time number 1 rival. The fact that the two teams present themselves two months before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in compositions not counting their best elements could give the Blues hope of finally warding off bad luck against Japan. It was not the case.
Pinot maintains hope, but not for long
Deprived in particular of its leader Teddy Riner and its other leader Clarisse Agbégnénou, France has once again suffered the law of the country of judo. Kanta Nakano led the way by scoring the first point for the Japanese, at the expense of Mathéo Akiana Mongo. It was then Momo Tamaoki’s turn to make the break by winning in overtime against Faiza Mokdar. Margaux Pinot, who on Wednesday prevented France from finishing the Worlds without a gold medal for the first time in 21 years, maintained the suspense (and hope) by winning against Shiho Tanaka in -70 kg after that the Japanese was disqualified in overtime for a third penalty. But not for long, since in the following fight, Axel Clerget lost against Komei Kowabata (18 years old), junior world champion. Another failure for the Blues, who will however have the opportunity to take their revenge this summer during the Olympics and beat the Japanese for the second time in a row in the meeting.
2024-05-24 18:34:37
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