Bercy Paris hosts some of the iconic stops on the World Judo tour – it is an occasion steeped in over 50 years of historical past – and Grand Slam Day One proved as thrilling as hoped for.
Judo is power, and IJF President Marius Vizer signed an settlement with Benjamin Lakatos, MET Group Chairman and CEO, formally partnering European power group MET with the IJF.
The opening ceremony, led by Vizer, featured a mesmerising Kata and gymnastics demonstration highlighting the grace and precision of the game. An inspiring begin to this unbelievable competitors!
An early gold for the hosts
And immediately France’s Blandine Pont stirred the feelings of the house crowd with victory within the -48kg class, the primary occasion of the match.
FIG President & IOC Member Morinari Watanabe awarded the medals.
Azerbaijan’s Balabay Aghayev cleverly countered France’s Cédric Revol to take gold within the -60kg contest.
MET Group Chairman & CEO Benjamin Lakatos awarded the medals.
At -52kg Olympic Champion Distria Krasniqi as soon as once more displayed her dominance, a lightning-fast Osoto-gari within the opening trade proving greater than sufficient to finest Hungary’s Pupp Reka.
OTP President Sandor Csanyi awarded the medals.
A win for Ukraine’s Bogdan Iadov
Ukraine’s Bogdan Iadov deployed Sumi-gaeshi to defeat Mongolia’s Battogtokh Erkhembayar within the -66kg contest.
IJF EC Member & Kodokan President Haruki Uemura awarded the medals.
At -57kg Priscilla Gneto introduced extra glory for the hosts with a tactical victory in opposition to Canada’s former World Champion Jessica Klimkait.
IJF Visitor Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill awarded the medals.
“It’s wonderful to struggle and to get a medal and to see all people supporting us all day,” mentioned Gneto. “It’s giving us a whole lot of energy all day, so thanks for this.”
Lasha Shavdatuashvili is a real legend of Judo, and the Georgian confirmed that he’s nonetheless on prime, profitable -73kg gold in fashion in opposition to Brazil’s Daniel Cargnin.
ANOCA President & IOC Member Mustapha Berraf awarded the medals
“I’m very pleased,” Shavdatuashvili mentioned. “As a result of this can be a particular crowd, it’s completely different from others and provides all of the athletes a whole lot of motivation. It’s a nice feeling once you win and all of the spectators are pleased due to your victory.”
Israel’s Gili Sharir took a shock Gold in opposition to Japan’s Nabekura Nami at -63kg.
IJF EC Member & IOC Member Yasuhiro Yamashita awarded the medals.
Inspiration for the subsequent era
And amid all the joy there was an exquisite second for the youngsters in attendance who obtained to satisfy one in all judo’s greatest stars, Clarisse Agbegnenou.
The subsequent era of French Judoka has been impressed!
Now we sit up for Day 2 in Paris, when the heavyweights take centre stage.
