Audrey Tcheuméo vice-world champion in -78 kg

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The French judoka, who was aiming for a second world crown, lost Friday in the final against the Israeli Inbar Lanir.

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Audrey Tcheuméo after her semi-final of the Doha World Championships, May 12, 2023. (MILLEREAU PHILIPPE / KMSP)

Cruel outcome for Audrey Tcheuméo during the Doha World Championships, Friday May 12. Opposed to the Israeli Inbar Lanir in the final of the -78 kg category, the French was beaten and won a silver medal, her fourth in the worlds. For the native of Bondy, on an excellent dynamic in recent months, this defeat is hard to swallow, as she was a scarecrow in the competition. Tcheuméo is now heading for Paris 2024 and the Olympic Games, to win the only title missing from his list.

Passing close to defeat on a snatch from his opponent, Tcheuméo then cracked on a nice movement from Lanir concluded by an ippon. For her first worlds since 2018, the Ile-de-France has made a serious journey to reach the final, successively dismissing the Colombian Brenda Olaya, the Belarusian Darya Kantsavaya, the Japanese Olympic champion Shori Hamada and finally the Dutch Guusje Steenhuis in the semi-final.

A medal to savor after drooling

This defeat in the final leaves a bitter taste but Audrey Tcheuméo has come a long way. In lack of results and barred by more competition than ever, in particular by Madeleine Malonga, she had not participated in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. In 2023, this silver medal comes on top of her two victories at the Grand Slams in Paris and Antalya and confirms that she is back to her best level. With the Olympics in her sights, she continues to garner confidence.“Doha will be a test, a lesson to move towards the ultimate goal”she said a few days ago to AFP.

The only French player of the day, Tcheuméo won a fifth medal for the French team at the Doha World Championships. On Saturday, place for the final individual tables before the team events. Teddy Riner at +100 kg, after six years of absence from competition, will try to win an 11th world title, while among women, Romane Dicko will seek to defend her property at +78 kg, she who had been crowned world champion in Tashkent last year. Another French competitor, Julia Tolofua will want to repeat her performance in Uzbekistan, where she won the bronze medal.


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