A meeting with multiple challenges. Led by Teddy Riner, the French team continues its preparation for the Olympic Games this weekend at the Antalya tournament, where Madeleine Malonga will try to shine in the -78kg category to win the last French ticket still in play.
After his victory at the Grand Slam in Paris at the beginning of February, Teddy Riner is back to competition in Turkey. As usual, he will aim for victory. The objective will be to “perform, of course”, explains to his coach Franck Chambily, but above all to “see where he is in terms of Olympic preparation” because this tournament remains a “stepping point” for the 34-year-old colossus. with a view to a fourth Olympic title, after those in the heavyweight category in 2012 and 2016 and the team title in 2021.
For Riner as for the other French Olympic selections present in Antalya, Luka Mkheidze (-60 kg), Walide Khyar (-66 kg), Alpha Djalo (-81 kg) and Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou (-90 kg), the goal will also be to climb the Olympic ranking to be among the eight seeds at the Games and offer a more favorable draw.
The importance of being seeded
Antalya is one of the last competitions on the program before the Olympics. Two other Grand Slams, in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan and especially the World Championships in Abu Dhabi (May 19-24) are planned for May as the final outing possibilities before hitting the tatamis of the Arena Champ-de-Mars.
Like Riner, Luka Mkheidze started the year with a victory in Paris at lightweight. The reigning European champion followed up with silver in Baku and, if he performs well in Antalya, he could be guaranteed top seed. Bronze medalist in Tokyo, he is aiming for gold in Paris.
Among the women, eyes will be on Madeleine Malonga (- 78kg), who will play her ticket to the Games. The federation has already selected thirteen judokas out of fourteen, and only this category remains to be filled. Malonga has her destiny in her hands, after the disappointing 5th place of her competitor Audrey Tcheuméo in Georgia last week.
The silver medalist in Tokyo had already taken a head start at the Paris tournament by beating Tcheuméo before taking bronze. A competition that she then hoped would be decisive. “But if we have to set the table again, we will set the table again!” “, she said. Dinner is served.
The finals can be followed on Eurosport 2 from 3 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 4 p.m. (Sunday), the day when Teddy Riner and Madeleine Malonga take to the track. Judo TV also broadcasts the competition.