Invincible in the World Mixed Team Championships, Japan won this event created in 2017 for the seventh time in as many editions, dominating France four victories to one on Friday in Abu Dhabi.
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 only two months before the Olympic Games.
“There is not much picture, we take 4-1, we were opened”recognized Christophe Massina, the manager of the women’s team. “There are no regrets, they were above it. What is 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
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
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)
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 achieved perfect Worlds, undefeated with 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 “ from this final after winning his first two fights, Clerget emerges despite everything ” very happy “ of his day: “getting over my disappointment at not being selected for the Games, it’s cool to be able to express myself after all these difficult moments”.
A competition in the form of a jubilee for the Tokyo Olympic team champion, for whom retirement is still “an unanswered question”.
“I gave myself up as if they were the last, after eighteen years in the French team (but) I will 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 they are the ones who caused the fall, they did some beautiful judo movements”.
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.
2024-05-24 18:24:14
#missed #France #Japan
