At 8am on Saturday the twenty first of December, two hours earlier than the doorways of the FDI Stadium opened, avid judo followers and golf equipment alike had been lining up on the ticket workplace, hoping to get a seat to observe their nationwide heroes compete within the grand finale of the yr, the European Membership Championships – Champions League 2024.
Town of Montpellier already proved that they may fill an area, delivering one of the sensational European Championships lately again in 2023. Right this moment, they did it once more. With Olympic, World and European medallists stretching off, warming up and warmly greeting each other after a nicely deserved post-Olympic break, the crowds started filling the seats, taking images with the legendary mascot, Kokomo, and making themselves snug, able to be the highest supporters.
Earlier than we point out the heavy hitters, native heroes should even be addressed, these from Montpellier Judo Olympic embody the present senior nationwide champion within the +100kg class, Angel GUSTAN, a notable rising star for France Judo.
Groups from Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, Austria, Türkiye and Luxembourg all aligned, able to deal with one of many strongest judo nations, not solely in Europe, however on the earth. Nonetheless among the French golf equipment have some worldwide help…
The star-studded group of Paris Saint-Germain can boast of the likes of Teddy RINER and Romane DICKO of their heavyweight positions, however they’ve additionally known as up Olympic silver medallist and up to date Tokyo Grand Slam winner, MURAO Sanshiro (JPN), in addition to Olympic bronze medallist, Alisher YUSUPOV (UZB) and ISHIHARA Tatsuki (JPN) to assist carry in regards to the Champions League title.
French Olympic medals are usually not all contained in PSG nonetheless, with Paris 2024 Olympic Video games underdog, Maxime-Gael NGAYAP HAMBOU within the -90kg class representing A M Asnieres. That is the primary event his membership has competed within the Champions League, and though throughout the heat up, Ngayap had lofty targets for his group, they had been despatched to the repechage by PSG. The truth is, the gang had been handled on this spherical, as they noticed the Olympic semi ultimate rematch between their eventual Olympic bronze medallist and Murao.
Among the many French superstars, we have now present and former World Champions within the -70kg class; Margaux PINOT and Marie Eve GAHIE, each of whom earned Olympic Combined Workforce medals together with Walide KHYAR and Alpha Oumar DJALO. Georgian group, Golden Gori have rallied a few of their superstars; together with Olympic silver medallist and present European Champion, Vazha MARGVELASHVILI and former World Champion, Luka MAISURADZE. Crimson Star Belgrade accommodates various their nationwide group’s combined group members who battled to European bronze in Zagreb this yr, however have additionally swiped a World Champion from Cuba, Andy GRANDA.
After all, a lot of the eyes on this area are for the last word champion, five-time Olympic Champion together with two Combined Workforce titles, and two-time Olympic bronze medallist, 11 World titles to his title in addition to 5 European, Teddy RINER. Not solely a hero for France, however an icon for World Judo, the Frenchman has stayed on high of his recreation since profitable the Senior European Championships in Belgrade 2007, making his mark on the judo group and past.
With out having stood on the tatami but, Paris Saint-Germain have already earned their place within the semi ultimate towards Judo Ukraine who made the last word comeback towards SGS Judo of their respective quarter ultimate. On the opposite half of the draw, Crimson Star Belgrade secured their semi ultimate place towards Judo Good Metropole, who additionally labored wonders within the quarter ultimate, 2022 Junior European bronze medallist Alya DE CARVALHO was defeated in her first contest by Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO), however within the random draw, confronted off the Georgian athlete and got here out the victor!
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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