The promising French Faïza Mokdar (-57 kg), winner of the prestigious Paris tournament at the start of the year, was eliminated at the start of the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, disqualified after a dangerous action. Against the modest Panamanian Kristine Jimenez, Mokdar was logically the favorite. After 26 seconds of fighting, she was able to place an uchi-mata (inside mowing), but her own head hit the ground.
No real risk in this case, but the regulations prohibit this type of action which could endanger the physical integrity of the athlete. “I’m making the mistake with my head, there’s nothing to say, I’m just shocked, I’m frustrated, it’s a shame,” the 22-year-old Frenchwoman reacted quickly.
“It can be dangerous, my head is touching, I can’t do anything about it,” she continued, only able to accept the referee’s verdict. Going out in the first fight, after only a few seconds of the match, “it’s very frustrating, I couldn’t express myself,” she regrets. She will have a chance, Friday during the mixed team competition, to emerge from these Worlds in the Emirates with her head held high.