Selected to represent France at the next Olympic Games in the under 90kg category, Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou will have his work cut out for him if he intends to bring home a medal. However, thanks to his 7th place this Sunday at the Antalya Grand Slam, the French judoka should grab some precious points, and precious places in the next world ranking, where he is 24th.
After three victories in his first three fights, Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou ended up falling for the first time in the quarter-finals, against the Turk Mihael Zgank. A frustrating defeat because the Frenchman dominated his opponent, sanctioned twice, during the first half of the fight. Before weakening physically and enduring too much. At the finish, strongly supported by the entire public, Mihael Zgank won after a third sanction inflicted on the Frenchman during the golden score.
Then in the repechage, Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou was defeated by the Cuban Ivan Silva Morales. Once again with a golden score, but on the verge of elimination with his two penalties even if his opponent finally won with a waza-ari. Nevertheless, at 22 years old, the French judoka continues to learn and his five fights today will necessarily be useful to him in view of Paris 2024.