1 February 2025

FRENCH ON FIRE

Paris Grand Slam 2025

FRENCH ON FIRE

There was a tremendous amount of hype surrounding the rule changes in 2025, but for the world tuning in to the first stop of the IJF World Judo Tour, the Paris Grand Slam, it was a seamless transition it seemed. New rules or not, the judo was still blinding and there was one surprise after another for the notorious French crowd.

With two Olympic medallists fighting in the -48kg semi finals, there was plenty on offer. First up the crowd were delighted to welcome their sweetheart, Shirine BOUKLI to the centre tatami against her final opponent in the 2024 Paris Grand Slam, KOGA Wakana. For Koga however, she wasn’t able to rewrite history today and once again suffered defeat from an early scoring sumi gaeshi. For Boukli it will still be a Japanese opponent in the final though, as KONDO Mitsuki managed to move past Tara BABULFATH as the Swedish ceded three shidos.

The -60kg final will mirror that of -48kg as the French and Japanese flags will fly for the competitors. The ever-rising star, Romain VALADIER-PICARD (FRA) is making a statement in this new cycle, vying for his place in LA 2028, and this year defeated Jorre VERSTRAETEN (BEL) in his semi, a strong and tactical match which sees him in to the final against Japan’s SEKIMOTO Kenta. Sekimoto will need to accept yet another difficult Frenchman after narrowly defeating Cedric REVOL, a very low ko soto gake scored the yuko to put him in with a chance of gold.

The -52kg category will be an all-Japan battle between OMORI Kisumu and FUJISHIRO Kokoro. The latter was the first to find her place, initially scoring yuko against Sofia ASVESTA (CYP) with morote seoi nage, and then repeating the action for waza ari before transitioning directly in to the winning osae komi. On the other side we had Olympic Champion and silver medallist, Distria KRASNIQI (KOS) who loves to compete here in the Bercy Arena. On this occasion however she made an error in the opening minute, not moving with haste from the ground against her Japanese opponent Omori, leading to the osaekomi and directing her to the bronze medal contest against BISHRELT Khorloodoi (UAE).

Ruslan PASHAYEV (AZE) took on the home favourite, Walide KHYAR in the -66kg semi final and countered a ko uchi gari with a beautiful sasae tsuri komi ashi, stunning both his opponent and the Bercy crowd. Yuko scores really came in to play in the second -66kg semi final between Daikii BOUBA (FRA) and current European Champion and Olympic silver medallist, Vazha MARGVELASHVILI (GEO). The latter did well to even the score as the seconds ticked away, forcing the contest in to golden score, but at 1:15 of extra time, Bouba executed sumi gaeshi against the Georgian star, keeping French hopes of a gold medal alive.

Of course the French success continued in to the -57kg category, with a guaranteed finalist. For Martha FAWAZ (FRA), 2024 was the year it all began to change for her. Earlier in the year she broke in to the gold medal position in European Open events, and by December, claimed a Grand Slam medal in the home of judo, Tokyo. Today she has an incredible chance to make that golden break through in front of a home crowd. After defeating team mate, Ophelie VELLOZZI in the semi final, she will be walking away with at least a silver medal, but she will need to take on Timna NELSON LEVY (ISR), who defeated FUCHIDA Megumi (JPN) with great use of ashi waza and countering. With a home advantage, anything is possible.

Martha FAWAZ (FRA) takes the place in her first Grand Slam final. © Gabi Juan

Manuel LOMBARDO (ITA) has been chasing a Paris Grand Slam medal for some time, and after factoring in covid, injuries and simply bad luck, he looked to be on terrific form in the -73kg category, battling his way to the semi final against the 2018 Paris Grand Slam winner, Akil GJAKOVA (KOS). Gjakova also stepped on the podium in 2023, acquiring bronze. The pair have a strong history, and it was Gjakova who defeated Lombardo in the Paris Olympic Games quarter final. In todays head to head, it was a matter of waiting as both looked strong and were sizing one another up, both aware of the danger. For Lombardo, he waited too long and was on the wrong end of a waza ari score. Still in with a chance to win bronze, he will face Maxime GOBERT (FRA). Gjakova could be looking at a second title but Shakhram AHADOV (UZB) will be a steep mountain to climb.

Title number #2 could be on the cards for Akil GJAKOVA (KOS) © Gabi Juan

Though the great Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (FRA) was not prepared to compete in this opening event in 2025, the French crowd have been given another chance of glory from Manon DEKETER in the -63kg category. In her semi final with DANNO Megu (JPN), she found herself the aggressor and was in control from the get go. When moving in to ne waza, it was clear Deketer felt confident and worked her way in to a shime waza win for her place in the final of the Paris Grand Slam. On the other side of the draw, Japan had better luck from KAJU Haruka who took the win against the current World Champion, Joanne VAN LIESHOUT (NED).

Judoka

Author: Thea Cowen