PSG Judo leads the French senior championships
Twelve entered this Saturday’s French senior championships in Toulon, and there are already five medals including the -57kg title for Faiza Mokdar. In the final, the 2018 French champion faced Martha Fawaz, the other Parisian in the category.
” The balance is interesting… but something is missing. While the day’s medalists posed for photographers in the magnificent setting of the Palais des Sports in Toulon, Nicolas Mossion, head of the club’s high level, took the time to study, without the language of wood, the it’s the first day of the french championships. A Saturday when Parisian judokas won five medals: one gold and four silver. Crowned in 2018, the year of her incredible hat-trick (champion of France cadets, juniors, seniors) at -52kg, Faiza Mokdar offered herself a second national senior title this afternoon in her new category of -57kg . “It’s always a competition with great difficulty, and the victory allows me to prepare well for the rest of the season.responded to one who therefore regained his national crown four years later. Having gained experience from the first time, it is up to me to take advantage of the next outings at Grands Prix and Grand Slams to show myself and claim the big senior selections. »
A gold medal won against… Martha Fawaz, after a 100% Parisian final whose quadruple European junior medal (three titles, one silver medal) was won with a sode-tsuri-komi-goshi (hip projection by pulling and lifting, editor’s note) to the gold mark.
” I am very satisfied with Faiza and Marthacontinued Nicolas Mossion. They are the bosses, finding themselves in the final after matches won in style. » All smiles on the side of the new vice champion of France, who just returned from injury. “With little practice under my belt, it turned out to be an enjoyable day, proving my progress since my bronze medal last year. In the final, I tried to act like Faiza was a classic opponent, but I can’t find a solution. This is the law of judo, and this defeat will teach me for the future. »
Two medals at -57kg added to those, in silver, by Mélanie Vieu (picture above) at -48kg, Manoah Dumont at -66kg and Luca Otmane at -73kg. The former only lost on penalties to Blandine Pont, after defeating Meriam Samraoui, Pauline Cuq, recent European junior medalist and Laura Espadinha, former PSG Judo, in the semi-finals. “I gave 300%, but it wasn’t enough to win today, admits Mélanie Vieu. Even though I still want to be the French number 1, you also have to know how to be satisfied with this regularity, and make this third consecutive podium as a springboard on the international stage. The Tokyo Grand Slam in early December could now be a real goal. »
First Parisian male medalist of the day, Manoah Dumont (picture above) serving as a very nice surprise of the day because, just juniors, he made it to the final without any complications, defeating especially Reda Seddouki, champion of France 2019, in the quarter-finals. “Although it is always disappointing to give up in the final, if someone had told me this morning that I would be vice-champion of France today, I would have signed immediately. This medal goes in the right direction, I got things right compared to the Cormelles preparation tournament, and it proves above all else that I wasn’t there by chance. The secret of this day is to always stay in the fight, to develop my judo to force the decision in every round, despite the three gold marks during my career. Which probably explains why I couldn’t hold back over time in the final, when the challenge was to attack my opponent to keep him out of his game.
Luca Otmane (picture above)who did not experience any major difficulties in going to his fifth consecutive national final, only to be defeated by Benjamin Axus, holder of the last world championships. “I don’t want to lose, it’s not normal to miss this final. Unfortunately, history has been repeating itself lately, it’s frustrating because I know I’m at the level to do much better in the world, where I really have to look forward to the future. »
Before letting his high-level manager finish: “ this day highlighted several profiles: the solid judokas, like Mélanie or Luca, expected at this level. And then the good surprises, like Manoah. He never gave up, even in the finals. » Five medals that allow PSG Judo to lead tonight, not forgetting the two fifth places of Antony Duporge at -60kg and Benjamin Gomes at -66kg, nor the seventh place of Arnaud Aregba, recent champion from Europe under 23 years old .
Tomorrow, four Red and Blue fighters will compete: Lili Nguyen (-63kg), Juliette Diollot (-70kg), Eniel Caroly (-90kg) and Rémi Benitah (+100kg).
