With a possible for 5 gold medals on the primary day of the Paris Grand Slam 2025, the French crowd had been understandably offering the well-known electrical environment. This occasion is thought for celebrating the perfect of the perfect of the French workforce, in addition to debuting their newer skills, and that’s precisely what they served within the Accor Enviornment, extra fondly often called ‘The Bercy’.
First within the working for gold was Olympic medallist, Shirine BOUKLI within the -48kg class, and after a stellar efficiency within the Olympic Video games, she was greater than prepared to offer her house crowd extra to have fun. KONDO Mitsuki (JPN) appeared to have the sting on conditioning as they entered the third minute of golden rating, and sadly it price Boukli the gold medal, however she is blissful to be again in competitors after a well-earned break.
I mentioned I wished to come back again at house as a result of it’s particular and you’ve got the group with you, the environment could be very completely different, they push you. I didn’t have an enormous goal right here, it was simply to come back again in competitors and take the pleasure in competing once more with all my household right here.
It was a double win for the French workforce within the -60kg class, with Enzo JEAN devastating Jorre VERSTRAETEN (BEL) within the bronze medal contest, and Romain VALADIER PICARD (FRA) cementing his place in historical past with a revered Grand Slam gold on house soil. It wasn’t going to be a simple one given his opponent, SEKIMOTO Kenta (JPN) had been on a roll at the moment, however Valadier Picard made it appear to be a stroll within the park together with his management and aptitude. After all it was something however simple as he explains, however with one minute to go, he put a waza ari on the board with uchi mata, and never too lengthy after sealed the take care of a drop morote seoi nage. Impressively, he misplaced the lapel however together with his dedication to the rotation, took the second waza ari. A primary Grand Slam gold, and at house.
Final time it was my arrival to the senior stage and now it’s a affirmation that it’s my place. I’ve labored onerous for it and now I’m prepared for extra.
There was an opportunity to listen to the anthem once more within the -66kg class, however Daikii BOUBA (FRA) was unable to fend off Ruslan PASHAYEV (AZE) who landed on the IJF World Judo Tour solely final 12 months with bronze medals within the Tbilisi Grand Slam and Zagreb Grand Prix. Bouba may clearly really feel the hazard and never eager to fall behind, put in a harai try, however to his dismay it was countered and over rolled by Pashayev. Solely a small rating, nevertheless it was sufficient to earn him his first Grand Slam gold, and although he defeated a number athlete, the group appreciated it regardless.
It was a case of polar opposites within the -57kg remaining, Martha FAWAZ (FRA) continues to be new on the scene whereas Timna NELSON LEVY (ISR) can boast of a protracted and profitable profession on the tatami however she has always been chasing down a medal in Paris. It was an enormous celebration for Nelson Levy within the semi remaining, having already secured a medal it doesn’t matter what, however being so near the end line, she wanted to come back out prepared for the struggle. With simply over a minute on the clock, the world had been on their ft for Fawaz who executed an ideal sasae tsuri komi ashi, scoring ippon.
It was a tough journey however I’ve the gold medal and it’s superb! It’s an excellent feeling that I’m right here, a lot work has gone in to reaching this gold medal and I hope it’s a signal that there are extra to come back! The ultimate, effectively Nelson Levy is an excellent judoka, and it was only a excellent feeling that I had, and it simply occurred. My first thought was my household, they’re right here and I’m so blissful.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
Share
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
E-Mail
