Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP 18:10 pm, May 07, 2023

First medal for the French delegation at the World Judo Championships. France's Shirine Boukli won silver on Sunday afternoon in the -48 kg category. The judokate won the first world medal of her young career.

France's Shirine Boukli won the silver medal in the -48kg category on Sunday on the first day of the World Judo Championships in Doha. Boukli lost in the final to two-time defending champion Natsumi Tsunoda of Japan but still won the first world medal of her career.

- ! ✊

Shirine Boukli (-48kg) lost in the final of these World Championships to the defending champion, Natsumi Tsunoda (JPN).

Our Frenchwoman finished vice-world champion! Bravo Shirine! pic.twitter.com/a13DbeBj8P

— France Judo (@francejudo) May 7, 2023

Often cited as one of the favorites in major international competitions, Shirine Boukli struggled to realize her potential. Out in her first fight at the last World Championships as well as the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she finally shines on the world stage, just over a year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

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Blandine Pont at the gates of the podium

The other French rider in the category, Blandine Pont, was beaten in the fight for the bronze medal. Revelation of the beginning of the year with three victories in Grand Slams, Pont (24) lost in the semifinals against Tsunoda. She then came up against another Japanese, Wakana Koga, in the fight for third place.