Paris (AFP)
The young Lisa Barbelin and the experienced Jean-Charles Valladont, silver medalist at the Rio Olympics in 2016, on Friday won their ticket for the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8) during the Olympic shooting qualification tournament. in the archery organized on the sidelines of the European Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
France can still hope to send other archers to Tokyo during the final TQO in Paris (in Charléty from June 19 to 21) where the team quotas will also offer three individual places.
In addition to his qualification for the Olympics, Barbelin, 21, also won the final victory in this TQO, against the Turkish Yasemin Anagoz.
The Moselle had validated its quota for Tokyo from its success in quarterfinals against the Slovak Denisa Barankova (6-2), letting burst its joy and its emotion.
"It's a dream come true. I had never felt so much stress in my career as before this quarter," the Frenchwoman told AFP.
"But it's not over, I also want to be European champion", added the one who will also play Sunday in the final of the European Championship, still in Antalya, where she will be opposed to Belarus. Karyna Dziominskaya.
The world No. 8 confirms its good form at the moment after winning the Porec Grand Prix in March and its second place in Antalya in April.
For the first time since London in 2012, it ensures the presence of at least one French archer at the Games.
The other Habs competing for the TQO, Mélanie Gaubil, failed in the quarterfinals.
In men, Jean-Charles Valladont, 32, who took advantage of the postponement of the Games for a year to regain confidence and his level, will play his third Olympics after Beijing in 2008 and Rio in 2016.
"I am very happy to play my third Games. It is a culmination after a thwarted start to the season. But the individual qualification is not an end, we want to go for the team one at Charléty", responded to the AFP the Olympic vice-champion.
His victory in the quarters against the German Maximilian Weckmueller (7-3) did not secure his place for Tokyo, the other French competing for the TQO, Thomas Chirault, 23, also having won in his quarter.
But while Chirault lost in the half, Valladont climbed to the final (lost against the Turkish Mete Gazoz) and will represent France.
Thanks to this qualification and that of Lisa Barbelin, France will also be in contention in the mixed team event in Tokyo (a man and a woman from the same country), a formula that is making its appearance at the Games.
© 2021 AFP