Japan Dominates France in World Mixed Team Judo Championships, Secures Seventh Victory

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Invincible in the World Mixed Team Championships, Japan won for the seventh time in as many editions this event created in 2017, sharply dominating France four victories to one, Friday in Abu Dhabi.

Published on: 05/24/2024 – 6:54 p.m.

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Olympic champion in Tokyo against Japan, France fails for the sixth time in a row in the World Cup final against the country of judo.

The two nations had not registered their typical teams for these Worlds placed just two months before the Olympic Games.

“There is not much picture, we take 4-1, we were opened up,” admitted Christophe Massina, the manager of the women’s team. “There are no regrets, they were on top. What’s interesting is that we got out of the Italian trap and against Georgia there was no match.”

France had in fact eliminated Italy in the quarter-final (4-1) then Georgia in the semi-final (4-2). The young Japanese selection crushed Germany (4-0) then Uzbekistan (4-1).

Georgia and Italy complete the world podium, in bronze.

Pinot’s Perfect Week

In the final, Japan scored its first point thanks to Kanta Nakano in the heavyweight division, who got the better of the young Frenchman Mathéo Akiana Mongo. Faiza Mokdar was mowed down by Momo Tamaoki (-57 kg) in overtime. It then took just 27 seconds for Ryuga Tanaka to overthrow Joan-Benjamin Gaba. (-73kg)

The Japanese Momo Tamaoki (white kimono) beat the French Faiza Mokdar in the final of the World Mixed Team Judo Championships on May 24, 2024 in Abu Dhabi © Ryan LIM / AFP

New world champion in the -70 kg category, Margaux Pinot kept hope alive by beating Shiho Tanaka with difficulty, disqualified in overtime for a third penalty.

She had a perfect World Championships, undefeated, including two victories over the Japanese: “I am happy with my fight, but there is some progress to be made to beat them,” summarized the 30-year-old judoka, not selected for the Games. .

Jubilee for Clerget?

In a fight between two generations, the 37-year-old veteran Axel Clerget, double world medalist 2018 and 2019, was unable to win his third match of the day, dominated by the 18-year-old junior world champion Komei Kowabata (-90 kg ).

“Frustrated” with this final after winning his first two fights, Clerget nevertheless emerged “very happy” with his day: “getting over my disappointment at not being selected for the Games, it’s cool to be able to express yourself after all these difficult times.

A competition in the form of a jubilee for the Tokyo Olympic team champion, for whom retirement is still “an unresolved question”.

“I gave myself up as if they were the last, after eighteen years in the French team (but) I’m going to give myself a few months to think about all that.”

Baptiste Leroy, head of the men’s team, sums up the difference between France and Japan: “Physically, we were present, on the kumi-kata (the seizure, Editor’s note), we were present, but it is they who bring down , they made some beautiful judo moves.”

This team event closed the 2024 Worlds, won overall by Japan with also three individual coronations, two silver medals and four bronze medals. France finished sixth in the individual category with one title, one silver medal and three bronze medals. Now, time for the Olympics.

2024-05-25 05:25:07
#missed #France #Japan

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