Walide Khyar is getting closer to the world Top 8, his goal for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in order to benefit from top seed status. And thus avoid, by chance, a first round against Hifumi Abe. The Japanese who ended his great journey this Friday near Antalya where the penultimate Grand Slam before the Olympics took place, the last taking place from May 10 to 12 in Almaty. Opposed to the Tokyo Olympic champion in the semi-finals, Walide Khyar was unable to do anything against an opponent whose longest fight in Turkey lasted 2’24”. In the final, Nurali Emomali only resisted the Japanese tornado for just 54 seconds, which brought her unbeaten streak to 51 fights in the under 66kg category.
A demonstration of strength which should not make us forget the beautiful day of the Frenchman, who was able to remobilize to overcome the Spaniard David Garcia Torne in order to win the bronze medal. A podium on which her compatriot Faiza Mokdar also stood. Surprising winner of the Grand Slam in Paris at the beginning of February, the young 22-year-old judokate never ceases to amaze by taking 3rd place in Antalya, only beaten in the semi-final by the Canadian Christa Deguchi, the world number 1 who took her revenge for the Parisian final in which she was surprised by Faiza Mokdar with an ippon after 51 seconds of combat.
With this bronze medal, the Frenchwoman will continue her rise in the world rankings and undoubtedly enter the Top 30. Which will not change anything for the Olympic Games in her under 57kg category, Sarah-Léonie Cysique – 3rd in the world and reigning Olympic vice-champion – having logically validated her ticket. But Faiza Mokdar continues to set a date for the future. Starting with the next European Championships in Zagreb from April 25 to 28 where she will aim for a new podium. Among the other results of the day, note the title won in the under 52kg category by the Japanese Uta Abe, Hifumi’s little sister, who annihilated all her rivals, in particular the unfortunate Englishwoman Chelsie Giles in the final, defeated after only 10 seconds. In Paris, the Japanese judoka will be Amandine Buchard’s number 1 opponent in her quest for gold.
