French Judoka Secure Two More Medals at European Championships
Melkia Auchecorne and Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou added to France’s medal tally at the 2024 European Judo Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, claiming bronze medals in their respective weight classes on April 26, 2024. Auchecorne secured third place in the women’s -57 kg division after defeating Austria’s Lubjana Piovesana in the bronze medal match, while Ngayap Hambou earned bronze in the men’s -90 kg category by overcoming Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili. Their successes brought France’s total to five medals at the championships, following earlier gold and silver wins by teammates.
The European Judo Championships, organized by the European Judo Union (EJU), served as a critical preparatory event ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Hosted at the Arena Zagreb from April 24-28, 2024, the competition featured over 400 athletes from 45 European nations competing across 14 weight categories. France entered the tournament as one of the favorites, bolstered by recent strong performances in international competitions and a deep roster of talent across multiple weight classes.
Auchecorne’s Path to Bronze
Auchecorne, 24, began her campaign with a convincing victory over Romania’s Bianca Basaraba in the round of 32, securing an ippon within the first minute. She then defeated Switzerland’s Fabienne Kocher in the round of 16 before facing a tough challenge against Kosovo’s Nora Gjakova in the quarterfinals. Despite a valiant effort, Auchecorne lost to Gjakova by waza-ari, sending her to the repechage bracket. In the repechage, she rebounded with wins over Slovenia’s Kaja Kajzer and Austria’s Lubjana Piovesana to claim the bronze medal. Her performance highlighted her resilience and technical skill, particularly her proficiency in seoi-nage and uchi-mata techniques.
Ngayap Hambou’s Bronze Medal Run
Ngayap Hambou, 26, opened his tournament with a dominant ippon victory against Lithuania’s Kristupas Treleckis in the round of 64. He continued his momentum with wins over Serbia’s Strahinja Bunčić and Czech Republic’s David Pulkrabek in the subsequent rounds. However, his run was halted in the quarterfinals by eventual silver medalist Nemanja Majdov of Serbia, who defeated him via waza-ari. Dropping into the repechage, Ngayap Hambou defeated Israel’s Baruch Shmailov and then Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili in the bronze medal match, securing his second consecutive European Championship medal after winning silver in 2023. His performance showcased his powerful grip fighting and effective use of ouchi-gari and tai-otoshi techniques.
France’s Overall Performance and Olympic Implications
France’s judo team concluded the European Championships with a total of five medals: one gold, two silver, and two bronze. Clarisse Agbegnenou captured gold in the women’s -63 kg division, while Joan-Benjamin Gaba and Alpha Oumar Djalo earned silver in the men’s -73 kg and -81 kg categories, respectively. The team’s performance underscored France’s continued dominance in European judo, building on their success at the 2023 World Championships where they won four gold medals. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaching, these results provide valuable momentum and confidence for the French judoka as they prepare to compete on home soil.
Looking Ahead to Paris 2024
The European Championships served as an important benchmark for France’s Olympic preparations. Athletes like Auchecorne and Ngayap Hambou gained valuable competition experience against top-tier European opposition, helping to refine their strategies and build mental resilience ahead of the Olympic Games. The French Judo Federation will now focus on final preparations for the Olympic judo events, scheduled to seize place from July 27 to August 3, 2024, at the Champ de Mars Arena in Paris. Fans can follow the team’s preparations through the French Judo Federation’s official website and social media channels for updates on training camps, selection processes, and Olympic prospects.
The success of Auchecorne and Ngayap Hambou at the European Championships highlights the depth of talent within the French judo program and reinforces the nation’s status as a perennial powerhouse in the sport. As the countdown to Paris 2024 continues, these athletes will look to build on their European success and aim for Olympic glory on home soil.
