There was a sense of déjà vu in the final of the European Judo Championships on Sunday April 28. Stares fixed and belts tightened, the French faced the Georgian armada – defending champion. Since judo invaded Europe from the land of the rising sun, the two nations have dominated the debates on the Old Continent.
Georgia suffered for a time from its lack of female judokas, when the event became mixed in 2018. But the incongruity has since been erased. Two European titles and a world team bronze medal later, Georgia has promising young judokas, like Eteri Liparteliani (- 57 kg), winner of the Grand Slam in Tbilisi in March and bronze medalist at these European championships. As for France, its position among the best nations in the world no longer needs to be proven.
If the presence of the two nations in the final was therefore not a surprise, the identity of the combatants was much more unusual. Point de Riner, Agbégnenou or Dicko. Three months before the Olympic Games in Paris, the continental meeting in Croatia was above all an opportunity for those who failed in the Olympic selection to offer themselves a title that looked like a consolation prize.
Only the “Olympians” Alpha Djalo (-81 kg) and Joan-Benjamin Gaba (-73 kg, not included in the mixed team) were entered in Zagreb. For its part, Georgia did not enter into such considerations: two Olympic champions and an Olympic vice-champion made up the ranks of its squad.
“Our No. 3 guarantees medals”
Nothing to dampen the ambitions of the Tricolores, who did much better than simply resisting the outgoing champions. The Blues clearly dominated the Georgian armada (4-0) to claim the European team title – the second in their history since the competition became mixed.
In the final, the latter were able to capitalize on the victories of Faïza Mokdar (- 57 kg), Margaux Pinot (- 70 kg), Joan-Benjamin Gaba (- 73 kg) and Alexis Mathieu (- 90 kg) to take it away. Earlier in the day, they had wiped out Austria (4-0) in the quarter-final and Germany (4-2) after a very tough semi-final.
At the end of four days of competition, France therefore concludes its competition with a second continental title after that of Audrey Tcheuméo on Saturday, but also two silver medals and three bronze medals. “We are showing that the French team has strength because our No. 2, or even our No. 3, guarantees medals,” said national technical director Bastien Puget. It’s a grand end to the championship with this team victory which crowns a great week. » And reward a French workforce of rare density.
