French Judoka Face Tough Challenges at World Championships
French judokas faced significant setbacks during the World Championships in Abu Dhabi as many of the nation's hopefuls failed to secure medals. In the men's team, Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou (-90 kg) became the fifth athlete to leave empty-handed. The 22-year-old showed potential with a victory over Mauritian Rémi Feuillet but was subsequently defeated by Spaniard Tristani Mosakhlishvili. Similarly, fellow competitors Luka Mkheidze (-60 kg), Walide Khyar (-66 kg), Joan-Benjamin Gaba (-73 kg), and Alpha Djalo (-81 kg) were also eliminated without medals. Despite having a promising start with his bronze medal at the Grand Slam in Paris earlier this year, Ngayap Hambou echoed the sentiment of his teammates, stating that he needs to "work harder" to be ready for the forthcoming Olympics.
Clarisse Agbégnénou's Unexpected Hurdle
On the women's side, Clarisse Agbégnénou, a six-time world champion, hit a stumbling block in the quarter-finals against Canadian Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard in the under 63 kg category. Agbégnénou had entered the competition strongly, defeating the Polish Natalia Kropska and the 2022 world champion, Japanese Megumi Horikawa. Nevertheless, her bout against the world number one, Beauchemin-Pinard, proved challenging. Despite having a track record of beating Beauchemin-Pinard in their previous five encounters, a penalty for non-combativeness and a waza-ari left Agbégnénou unable to turn the match around. She now hopes to clinch a bronze medal via the repechage rounds.
Path to Redemption
Agbégnénou will face Croatian Iva Oberan in the repechage. Oberan was eliminated earlier by Dutch athlete Joanne Van Lieshout. Should Agbégnénou win this fight, she will be a step closer to securing at least a bronze medal in her category, offering some consolation after an unexpected defeat. With just two months left before the Olympics, both the men’s and women’s teams need to regroup and focus on their training to improve their performance and bring pride to the nation.
- With high hopes riding on them, French judokas are feeling the pressure as the Olympics approach. The performance at the World Championships serves as a wake-up call, prompting athletes and coaches alike to reassess their strategies and training programs. The setbacks faced by both Ngayap Hambou and Clarisse Agbégnénou underscore the need for relentless preparation, mental resilience, and tactical adjustments.
- The French Judo Federation has expressed confidence in their athletes' ability to bounce back, pointing out that the World Championships offer valuable experience that athletes can use to refine their skills. The sports community back home remains hopeful and supportive, rallying behind their judokas as they aim for redemption in forthcoming competitions.
