Budapest (AFP)

No medal, but precious lessons before the Olympic Games: Kilian Le Blouch, who will represent France in -66 kg in Tokyo, does not leave empty-handed from the world championships in Budapest, where he failed on Monday in draft.

Impressive in perseverance and physical strength, Le Blouch built his tournament like a judo marathoner with three penalty wins in the "golden-score" to reach the quarter-finals.

Logically beaten by Azerbaijani Orkhan Safarov, European champion in 2020, he then delivered in the draft a new fierce fight against Mongol Baskhuu Yondonperenlei, finally winner on waza-ari after almost three minutes in extra time.

"Here, I'm mostly tired," he smiled when asked to take stock of his Hungarian day, marked by more than 30 minutes spent on the mat in five fights.

"But I'm going to try to be positive, to look ahead. It's a special season, I was 3rd at the European Championships, there I'm going for the first time in my life in the final square of a world championship. I feel it's accessible, "said the 31-year-old Parisian.

"A world charm in the course of a judoka, it's exceptional. So it's a shame. But I also know that I have an even bigger goal in six or seven weeks with the Olympics. I will leave with the same desire, with things a little more refined and that will do it ", he also assured.

- Family affairs -

In the meantime, he will still monitor the course of his companion Sarah Harachi on Wednesday, who is now fighting for Morocco and who will try to obtain her Olympic qualification in the -63 kg, the category of the quadruple French world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou.

"She has a hell of a mission since she has to become vice-world champion if she wants to make the Games. She is more on a 2024 goal but the story would be beautiful. I do not put pressure on her (laughs). hope she's going to have some fun and come back in one piece, "Le Blouch explained.

While waiting for Agbegnenou on Wednesday, the France team has still not won a medal in Budapest, because in the -52 kg category, Astride Gneto remained far from her goal with a defeat in her second fight against Belgian Amber Ryheul, victorious by ippon in the "golden-score".

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"Hot, what I can say is that I did not feel at the top. I did not manage to put my hands on the right way. She was smarter. Obviously, I am very disappointed. C 'was my last competition of the season and it's annoying to finish like this, "she said after her elimination.

Unlike Le Blouch, Gneto will indeed not be in Tokyo since it is world No. 1 Amandine Buchard who will represent the France team in the category.

But perhaps she hoped to win in Budapest the world medal which has always escaped her big sister Priscilla, Olympic bronze medalist (in 2012 in London) and twice on a European podium.

Tuesday, there will be no French entered in Budapest after the package of Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg), announced Saturday by the federation.

© 2021 AFP