Gabriella Willems is rewarded after her long revalidation.
Certainly, Gaby would have preferred to win the bronze medal this Wednesday, in Abu Dhabi, but she will console herself with the Olympic qualification. Her fifth place earns her 720 points in the ranking, where she will jump from 30th to 22nd place.
This was the reason for the tears that invaded the face of the 26-year-old from Liège as she left the tatami after her quick victory against the Russian Taimazova in the quarter-finals. Gaby had to know that, whatever the outcome of this World Cup, she would compete in the Paris Games. After missing those in Tokyo, due to… injury.
In Abu Dhabi, Gabriella Willems had a fantastic run, dismissing the Taiwanese Liao and the German Scoccimarro in an arm lock before taking the scalp of the Austrian Polleres, reigning Olympic vice-champion. A judoka she had not yet beaten, in six confrontations. “I went through competitions and disappointments without preparation. It was my last chance to qualify for the Paris Games. After everything I went through? I came without any real expectation of results. I just had want to fight, without regrets. I had already lost six times against Polleres, including three weeks ago, in Dushanbe.
This shows if this fight will mark his career. This shows that this victory was a turning point, even if we knew Gaby Willems capable of anything, especially the best, such as pushing her rival on her back.
What followed was the story of a reunion with the Russian Taimazova, whom she had already eliminated at the Euro. Tears, then. Then, the semi-finals against the French Gahie, reigning European champion, too strong for her. Anyway, for now…
Sent to the “small final”, that for the bronze medal, Gaby fell on the Japanese Tanaka. But she does not have to be ashamed of her defeat against this left-hander who knew how to prevent her from developing her judo and who was able to score on one movement, in two stages.
Unhappy, Sami Chouchi
In -90 kg, Sami Chouchi was incredulous and unhappy when the referee inflicted a third penalty on him, for passivity (?), while the clock still showed 28 seconds of his round of 16. Facing Kirgiz Sherov, the Brussels native fought, it is true, a crucial fight for him not only in this World Cup, but also in view of the Games.
And it, unfortunately, worked in favor of his opponent. Sami did not deserve to leave the tatami because of this decision! Especially since at this stage of the competition, he could not be drafted.
To get there, the Brussels native had eliminated the Senegalese Diao on immobilization, then the judoka from the United Arab Emirates, Grigorian, who imposed a very rough fight on him… But Sami escaped, the referee penalizing his opponent for passivity. What does it matter now…
Matthias Casse, beaten at the World Cup: “I find these penalties unfair!”
2024-05-23 06:18:35
#Judo #resilience #Gaby #Willems
