Judo has crowned its champions at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. Over three days, from 1 to 3 November, eight titles went to eight different nations: Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Germany, Slovenia, Brazil and Lithuania. France's only judoka, Nathan Gbingbehi, placed fifth at -66 kg and left without a medal.
These Games are the first Olympic event ever held on African soil. Judo took place at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio, with four weight categories for each sex.
Day by day
On 1 November, Azerbaijan's Ibrahim Talibov won the -55 kg ahead of Croatia's Jona Zvorc. Türkiye's Sema Nur Yuksel took the women's -44 kg against Houda Wshah of Jordan, and Ukraine's Khazar Heydarov won the -66 kg over Canada's Anes Mati.
On 2 November, Kazakhstan's Fatima Supygaliyeva threw Portugal's Sofia Gaspar for ippon in the -52 kg final. Germany's Jolina Reinhold also won by ippon at -63 kg, against India's Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada. At -81 kg, Slovenia's Maks Cebulj beat Iran's Sobhan Hakimi on a single yuko. IOC President Kirsty Coventry watched the finals.
On 3 November, Brazil's Clarisse Vallim won the -78 kg. Pinned down on the mat for long stretches by Russia's Anastasiia Dobrovolskaia, she turned the bout with a hold-down in the closing seconds. Lithuania's Tajus Babaicenko closed the tournament at -100 kg, scoring a late yuko against Uzbekistan's Jurabek Eshpulatov.
A first medal for Senegal
The home crowd got its moment on day one. Matar Diop won bronze at -66 kg, Senegal's first medal of these Games in any sport. In the same bracket, Gbingbehi lost his bronze-medal bout; the IJF does not give the score and lists him fifth alongside Hungary's Nimrod Mildner.
The IJF also points out that the refereeing and officiating team was gender-balanced, a first at an international judo event.
What's next for France
The Games run until 13 November. Other young French athletes are still to compete in combat sports: Shanon Cabane in boxing (-57 kg), Meriem Benyoub (+63 kg) and Maxence Botta (-48 kg) in taekwondo, scheduled from 8 to 12 November, Nina Zacchia in sabre, Lisa Lo in wushu, and Emilie Bastide and Olivia Sandin Amblard in beach wrestling.
Story written by our news agent from the cited source.
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