France are at all times a number one nation in judo, and on the final of the World Judo Championships 2024 in Abu Dhabi, their Blended Group continued to show simply that. It was an important street to the ultimate with huge wins for the crew towards Germany and Uzbekistan, that was sporting some youthful members this yr, however after all the main target was on attending to the ultimate towards powerhouse, Japan.
NAKANO Kanta (JPN) had some making as much as do, following the semi closing loss within the +90kg class and he managed it towards Matheo AKIANA MONGO, the Cadet World silver and European bronze medallist. An enormous ura nage gave him the primary waza ari rating, and an o uchi gari sealed the deal for Japan’s first win.
A second got here within the -57kg class from TAMAOKI Momo who had a tricky job towards Faiza MOKDAR (FRA). The French athlete took Paris by storm in February, claiming the Grand Slam gold and placing herself on the map. Within the closing she confirmed her class towards the 2021 World silver and 2024 World bronze medallist, however maybe lacked the expertise of her opponent. Selecting up two shidos, Faiza took Tamaoki in to golden rating, however a change in route caught her off guard, delivering for uchi mata, the Japanese athlete switched to an o uchi gari for the win.
Joan-Benjamin GABA within the -73kg class wasn’t given a lot time towards his opponent, TANAKA Ryuga (JPN) who managed to make the rating 3:0 with a hopping and driving o uchi gari in 32 seconds. Present World Champion, Margaux PINOT (FRA) was the one who might stop the 4:0 profitable sweep of Japan. TANAKA Shiho (JPN) was below an incredible quantity of strain to safe the win for her crew, however after six minutes of contest time, she picked up a 3rd shido for a false assault, maintaining France within the sport.
In his final ever outing, Group France veteran and Olympic Blended Group gold medallist, Axel CLERGET was dealt Japan’s rising star within the -90kg class, KAWABATA Komei. The 18 year-old took the Junior World title in 2023 and surprised Clerget within the first 14 seconds together with his favorite method, drop morote seoi nage, nevertheless it solely earned him a waza ari, that means the French judoka now had an uphill battle on his palms. Clerget’s expertise and intelligence on the tatami allowed him to work tactically, and Kawabata began accumulating shidos, however with lower than 20 seconds left on the clock, Clerget was determined and he was caught with one other morote seoi nage.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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