Budapest (AFP)

With only two individual medals, gold from Clarisse Agbegnenou (-63 kg) and silver from Madeleine Malonga (-78 kg), the French judo team leaves the Budapest Worlds with an undoubtedly disappointing record.

But six weeks before the Olympics, the context was very specific and the rebound is expected in Tokyo.

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Historically low

The French team arrived in Hungary with three red bibs of world champions (Agbegnenou, Malonga and Marie-Eve Gahié in -70 kg) and left with only one.

By bringing back only two medals, it signs its worst record since the mid-1980s, when the competition became mixed.

"We are disappointed because there are a few girls that we would have liked to see on the box, even a few guys," admitted Larbi Benboudaoud, director of high performance and boss of the Blues.

"But it's still a special world championship. A lot of athletes have their heads in the Olympics and we are also part of those teams which have not fielded only N.1", added the former Olympic medalist.

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Agbegnenou, Malonga, the certainties

Even if the general assessment is mixed, the Hungarian week confirmed that the sure values ​​are on the side of women.

After a difficult year, marked by the postponement of the Olympics which she experienced particularly badly, Agbegnenou won a fifth world title with great confidence and was full of confidence before Tokyo.

Malonga for her part gave up her crown in the final and found that she had less margin than Agbegnenou, but for her too, Olympic gold is a legitimate goal.

"They hold their rank. They wanted because they had the red bib and they have the Olympic title in their sights," confirmed Benboudaoud.

"I am a little more disappointed for the others. Marie-Eve (Gahié, eliminated from entry), the red bib he had remained at home," he added.

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Among the youngest, Julia Tolofua passed very close to bronze in +78 kg, a very dense category among the French, but Shirine Boukli (-48 kg) did not manage to obtain the good result that would have brought her back among the seeds of the Olympic tournament.

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Waiting for Riner

With a 5th place for Walide Khyar and two 7th positions for the Olympians Alexandre Iddir and Kylian Le Blouch, the male record is much duller.

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"It's quite mixed for me. I have a little frustration on this record. It could have been a lot better but we are not going to be in regret, we will see what there is to put in place for We will have to work on the details for the two who will play the Games, focus on what they lacked, "summarized Christophe Gagliano, the head of the men's sector.

The staff had all the same chosen not to take risks with Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg) and Axel Clerget (-90kg), injured and who will be in Tokyo with certain ambitions.

And then, of course, there will be Teddy Riner.

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Make way for the Games

"We will close ranks next week, with just the Olympic selected. We will re-mobilize as regards" THE "objective, the Olympic Games," warned Benboudaoud.

"We will send a message on the state of mind, who dares to win. We will look ahead and there is nothing that is impossible," he added.

Same message for Gagliano, who wants to leave behind "this world championship which was not extraordinary, far from it".

After these incongruous Worlds on the road to the Games, it is time to "switch to Tokyo 100%".

© 2021 AFP