Montréal, August 3, 2024 – On Saturday, the Canadian judo staff had a last alternative to climb onto the Olympic podium on the Paris Video games within the combined staff occasion, the place they took on the judokas of Uzbekistan within the spherical of sixteen.
Nevertheless, the ultimate day of competitors didn’t unfold because the Canadian judokas had hoped, as they have been denied victory on the Champ-de-Mars Enviornment.
“As within the different judo occasions, I really feel we got here inside a hair’s breadth of profitable a number of of the bouts. I really feel that a number of of the shut calls and important sequences tipped the stability away from us,” stated Crew Canada coach Antoine Valois-Fortier.
Though their bouts have been very shut, each Christa Deguchi and Arthur Margelidon in the end misplaced in time beyond regulation, Deguchi to Shukurjon Aminova by ippon, and Margelidon to Murodjon Yuldoshev by waza-ari.
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard was up subsequent. She bowed out to Gulnoza Matniyazova, who scored an ippon.
Trailing 0-3, the Canadians not had any room for error. The defeat of François Gauthier-Drapeau to Davlat Bobonov by waza-ari thus determined the end result of the primary spherical, the place the Canadians needed to concede defeat to the staff from Uzbekistan.
“This shouldn’t be seen as a 4-0 loss. All 4 bouts have been very shut, three of them specifically. I really feel we got here extraordinarily shut a number of occasions this week, so I’m permitting myself to really feel a bit bitter proper now,” added Valois-Fortier, himself a three-time Olympian.
On account of Canada’s early elimination, neither Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi nor Shady ElNahas had the chance to compete within the staff occasion.
“Proper now, we’re feeling a bit dissatisfied and annoyed that we got here so shut so many occasions,” defined Valois-Fortier.
“Over the following few weeks, it will likely be vital for us to do a radical debriefing of what occurred. Will probably be vital to verify in with the athletes themselves, since they’re those who’re on the market on the mats. I need to know if my impressions are appropriate, and ensure I’m not out in left discipline.”
Now that the Olympic judo competitions are over in Paris, the Canadian staff will return house with one medal. Christa Deguchi received gold within the under-57 kg class earlier this week, changing into Canada’s first Olympic judo champion.
“Christa’s medal was a significant milestone, each for me personally and for Canadian judo typically. She had an unimaginable day. However all in all, this week’s outcomes are just a little disappointing, as a result of I feel our staff may have received multiple medal,” concluded the coach.
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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada
For extra info:
Patrick Esparbès
Chief Working Officer
Judo Canada
(514) 668-6279
p.esparbes@judocanada.org
