France came back following defeat in the quarter final by Germany, taking a 4-1 win over Israel before coming up against the strong team of Georgia for the bronze medal.
There was an epic first round in the -81kg between Ahmed-Adam HAMDAOUI (FRA) and Giorgi MUMLADZE (GEO), picking up two shidos each, early in the contest, not allowing either to have a moment rest as both looked for the score. Unfortunately, despite great efforts from both judoka, a third shido was issued to the French athlete.
Current Cadet European and EYOF Champion in the +70kg category, Emma FEUILLET–NGUIMGO of France took the win in the mixed team +63kg categroy, levelling the score with a huge uchi mata, which landed in osaekomi against Nina DZAGANIA (GEO). Bringing France back in the game was an important step, even if it only lasted a few moments. Georgia’s Ioane ABALAKI lifted the spirits of his team, countering an uchi mata attack from Azriel DEKENNE DIFFO, the yuko enough to seal the win.
Another current EYOF Champion took a win but in no way was it easy. Celine IDDIR (FRA) had a true battle against Mariam TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in the -48kg weight, the French athlete hooking in for o uchi gari before changing direction, to throw with uchi mata. It was an uchi mata return from Tsurtsumia to even he score but in the last minute, Iddir scored waza ari with a double-sleeved drop seoi nage and tied it all up on the ground.
The -60kg EYOF bronze medallist, Vakhtangi TCHIABERASHVILI (GEO) gave a master class in ne waza, first holding for a yuko score, before France’s Titouan LUCAS managed to escape, but it didn’t last long. Tchiaberashvili simply went back to work in order to take the win on the ground.
It could have been the deciding point for Georgia to take the win, but Constance DOS REIS (FRA) gave a heart-felt performance to keep her team in with a chance to take a medal. Nana GULBIANI (GEO) put in a strong ko soto attack but it was anticipated by Dos Reis who changed direction in order to make the throw her own, an ouch gari made the score 3:3.
The draw roulette had the arena holding their breath. Eventually it landed on the +63kg categroy and Feuillet-Nguimgo looked to have a quick finish but unbelievable, Dzagania managed to escape the osae komi at four seconds. It was a fierce back and forth for almost three minutes and an impressive performance from the -70kg Dzagania but she was put off balance with an o uchi gari, which was followed up with a koshi guruma to finish.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen