| The Esca club is enjoying its victories at the Madagascar Cup, in Toamasina. |
Untouchable, the Sacré-Cœur School of Antanimena (Esca) confirms its status as favorite at the Madagascar Cup for seniors, juniors, cadets and minors, contested this weekend at the Toamasina Arena. Esca finished at the top of the medal table with sixteen gold, seven silver and twelve bronze medals. Saint-Michel follows, far behind with six gold medals, nine silver and six bronze, ahead of Asco d’Atsimo-Andrefana, which has twelve medals including five gold.
In addition to the four titles among the seniors and the three among the juniors on Saturday, the Antanimena club also shone on Sunday among the U18 cadets and the U21 juniors.
Tied titles
The junior girls won three national titles out of the five at stake. Roumaica Benandro achieved a double by winning the coronation among the juniors (-57 kg), in addition to that of the seniors. She won in the final against Nomenjanahary Niando of Cosfa. In the -52 kg category, Nomenjanahary Santatriniaina climbed to the top of the podium by beating Samantha Hery Ny Vola from Saint-Michel. In the -63 kg category, Koloina Alinia Razafindratsimba won in the final against Noely Florencia Hoby from Asco.
Cosfa won a title in the -48 kg category, signed by Thierry Lucia Niando, while a coronation also went to Asco, thanks to Laurelle Lindsay Ravelomanantsoa in the -70 kg category. The titles were hotly contested among the boys. Esca snatched one, won by Bryan Antonio Minoharintsoa (-90 kg). The Antsirabe Family Judo judoka, Kevin Emilson Ralevazaha, achieved a double in the -66 kg category, being crowned both among the seniors and among the juniors.
The other junior champions are Andriantsoa Flavien Raveloson of Red d’Analamanga (-60 kg), Mario Joany Razafinjatovo of JJT d’Atsinanana (-73 kg) and Michel Tafita of Uscaj d’Analamanga among the heavyweights (+100 kg). On the cadet side, Esca won two titles in the four contested finals, won by Aicha Rakotondrasoa (-44 kg) and Avana Colline Rabetafika (-63 kg). Cosfa also won two titles thanks to Thierry Lucia Niando (-48 kg) and Elda Razafinomeny (-52 kg).
This Madagascar Cup ended the season in style for the Malagasy Judo Federation. The elective general assembly of the FMJ is scheduled for the end of January 2026.
Serge Rasanda
