Montréal, October 3, 2024 – All three Canadians who competed on the Junior World Judo Championships in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday have been eradicated of their first rounds. Within the under-57 kg weight class, Catherine Toshkov (Quebec) and Laurence Gagnon (Quebec) completed with 0-1 information, as did Félix Mercier-Ross (Quebec) within the under-73 kg division.
Photograph IJF
Catherine Toshkov (in white).
After receiving a first-round bye, Gagnon misplaced by two waza-ari to China’s To Yuying, who later captured the silver medal. Toshkov was defeated by ippon in time beyond regulation by Mirja Pollheimer of Switzerland.
Mercier-Ross, who at 20 years previous is in his ultimate 12 months of eligibility for the Juniors, misplaced to Chile’s Tomas Hernandez by ippon.
“For all three of them, it was their first time on the Junior World Championships. I’m not utilizing that as an excuse, however nonetheless, I don’t suppose they carried out to their full potential as we speak,” defined Canadian coach Sasha Mehmedovic. “Due to their lack of expertise, they’d bother dealing with the strain. We must always have seen some wins, which was after all the purpose, as a result of it was in actual fact a practical chance. However after the warm-up, I may see that the strain was attending to them, and so they weren’t capable of implement the plan we had provide you with.”
The massive, boisterous crowd additionally added to the strain, in keeping with Mehmedovic.
“If you’re not used to that form of factor, it may be onerous. Right here, the bleachers are full, the gang is waving flags, and there’s numerous noise. It’s a extremely nice ambiance. It’s very totally different from the Canadian Championships and the Pan-American Championships. They love judo right here and so they have an awesome program, as a result of they received two Olympic medals this 12 months.”
Gagnon and Toshkov can have an opportunity at redemption subsequent 12 months, as they’re each 18 years previous.
“A few of the classes we discovered listed here are, ‘What do we have to work on?’, ‘What occurred right here?’ Then, after we get again to coaching, we’ll make the mandatory adjustments in order that these issues don’t occur once more,” concluded the coach.
The ultimate Canadian to hit the tatamis will likely be John Jr. Messé A Bessong (+100 kg) on Saturday. The Québécois is the cadet world champion in his class and the nation’s greatest hope on the Junior World Championships.
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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada
For extra data:
Patrick Esparbès
Chief Working Officer
Judo Canada
(514) 668-6279
p.esparbes@judocanada.org
