Tokyo (AFP)
The French judo team, led by Clarisse Agbégnénou and Teddy Riner, qualified for the final of the mixed event of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday by beating the Netherlands and is therefore assured of a gold medal. or money.
In the final, France will face Japan, which lines up several fighters crowned Olympic champions this week and which is a huge favorite at home.
In the individual events, the French judo team collected seven medals in Tokyo.
To reach the final, the French first had to fight against Israel in a match where they came close to elimination.
After four fights, only one victory was missing for Israel, which led 3-1 after the defeats of Sarah-Léonie Cysique (-57 kg), Margaux Pinot (-70 kg) and Axel Clerget (-90kg).
Only Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg) had won his fight.
But Romane Dicko (+78 kg) and Teddy Riner (+100 kg), the two bronze medalists on Friday, won and France fell to 3-3.
The decisive fight was fixed by a draw and it's Margaux Pinot, beaten in her first fight against Gili Sharir after an endless 12-minute clash that had to come back on the mat!
The vice-champion of Europe did not fail this time and won by ippon after another tough fight lasting more than four minutes.
Then in the semi-final, the Blues clearly dominated the Netherlands 4-0, thanks to the success of Guillaume Chaine, Clarisse Agbégnénou, Axel Clerget and Romane Dicko.
Teddy Riner, who serves as captain of this France team, did not need to get on the mat but he did not stop encouraging his people.
This is the first time that the mixed team event has been featured on the Olympic Games program.
The French team has already collected 15 medals in Tokyo and three more are now assured, with women's rugby sevens, women's team saber and mixed team judo.
© 2021 AFP