Karate: Quentin Mahauden Makes a Triumphant Comeback on the Podium in Casablanca!
In a moment of immense relief and joy, Quentin Mahauden claimed the bronze medal this Sunday in Casablanca, the stage for the fourth leg of the “Premier League” this year. After early defeats in Paris, Antalya, and Cairo, the 23-year-old Brabançon had been craving a victory that would truly satisfy him. His two wins at the Euro were not enough to satiate his hunger for success. However, this hard-earned podium finish reassures him that his skills remain intact.
Having secured a bronze medal at last year’s Euro, Quentin had grown accustomed to the accolades after following up with three medals – one gold in Rabat and two bronzes in Fukuoka and Dublin. But then came a dry spell with a third-round exit at the World Championships in late 2023 followed by defeats in early 2024.
Fortunately, Mahauden’s resilience shone through in Morocco as he only bowed out in the semi-finals of the -75 kg category against the world number one, Egyptian Abdelaziz, after a intense battle that ended in a draw (4-4) decided by the judges. Prior to that, Quentin showcased his fighting spirit by defeating the likes of Turkish Bulut (3-0), Portuguese Duarte (11-1), and Italian Pietromarchi (1-0) to reach the quarter-finals. He then overcame Japanese Sakiyama (7-0) to secure a spot in the bronze medal match, where he defeated another Egyptian, Abdelgawad (4-3).
Unfortunately, the story was different for Youness Oualad in the -67 kg category. After enduring a double jaw fracture in Cairo, which required surgery, the 22-year-old from Brussels faced a heartbreaking defeat in the bronze medal match against French Tas (7-8). Despite his struggles since January 2023, Youness fought valiantly, climbing back up to the 53rd spot in the world rankings.
Moving on to the women’s -61 kg category, Maryam Ajaray also faced disappointment as she fell short in the bronze medal match against Ukrainian Sholokhova (5-7).
Karaté: Anass Abdelmalki stands as the sole Belgian survivor in the individual events at the Euro.