Finally, there we are.
Going from a tatami rifle shooting competition, from a handball court to a boxing ring ... Everything that makes the Olympics so delicious started this Saturday morning.
And we will not shy away from our pleasure, despite the mixed performance of the French camp.
We will summarize for you what has happened since about two o'clock in the morning in Tokyo.
Two big disappointments
The first French counter-performance took place under the watchful eye of Emmanuel Macron. Visiting Nippon Budokan, the temple of Japanese judo, the Head of State could only note the early elimination of Shirine Boukli (-48 kg). Sacred European champion in November 2020, she was ejected in the first round. She was sanctioned with three penalties, the last of which was taken in the pants, after three minutes of clash against the Serbian Milica Nikolic.
"I do not understand why the last penalty falls, I supposedly catch the pants while I am at the hip, I do not understand", explained the young Frenchwoman (22 years old) in the mixed zone. “I was as usual, I don't think I put any barriers because it was the Olympics. I made sure not to be too much of a fan of this event. I approached her as a “competent” like the others. That it ends so quickly, it's special ... ”she also regretted.
Three hours later, the debacle came from the Mahut / Herbert duo.
The Olympic tournament, a priority of their priorities this season, stops in the first round.
The Angevin and the Alsatian fell against Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury (6-3, 6-2).
Still winners of Roland-Garros in the spring, they represented by far the best chance for a medal for French tennis.
It was also undoubtedly the last Olympics of Nicolas Mahut (39) who was eyeing the last title missing from his record in doubles.
The Frenchwoman who made an appointment
She will tell you, and rightly so, that there is mostly a lot of frustration.
But how not to salute this beautiful fifth place of Océane Muller in rifle shooting at 10 meters?
The 18-year-old Alsatian arrived in Tokyo with a title of European champion won at the end of May in Osijek (Croatia).
She gave a glimpse of a promising future in view of the Paris Olympics, which she will approach with this experience of the very high level.
“When I saw that I was in the final I said to myself 'you go, you have nothing to lose'.
I admit that I had stress ”again, she explained, saying to have“ thought a little about the medal ”.
The smile of the night
It is that of Nikola Karabatic and all the tricolor camp.
Experts made a serious start to the tournament by beating Argentina (33-27).
The new generation has lived up to the image of Melvyn Richardson, scorer of seven.
It will be necessary to confirm on Monday against Brazil, before going to rub shoulders with Germany, Spain, double reigning European champion, and finally Norway.
French victory 🇫🇷
Perfect entry into the tournament for French handball players, winners (33-27) against Argentina #Handball #FRAARG # Tokyo2020
Follow the Olympics live ▶ https://t.co/wuA7t8ktsS pic.twitter.com / Jf1JTslNzr
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 24, 2021
The first French surprise medal?
We hope to see him at 10 am for the final in his category (-60kg).
Luka Mkheidze, 25 years old and a former Georgian refugee, is the very nice surprise of this first day.
He eliminated early this morning the one who deprived him in April of his first European title, the Spaniard Francisco Garrigos.
A snatch victory at the Golden Score which gave him confidence to the point of defeating the Ukrainian Artem Lesiuk in the next round with two waza-ari in less than a minute.
He will play his place in the final against Taiwanese Yang Yung Wei, (23), also a novice at this level.
The fight is scheduled for around 11 a.m. in France.
🇫🇷 Luka Mkheidze did not miss his entry into the competition.
🥋 In the under 60kg category, the Frenchman overcame the European champion with a Waza-ari.
Direction the round of 16.
# Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/DHLXgxXQRz
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 24, 2021
The dotted zeros
French fencing has missed its entry point.
The two athletes entered took the door in the first round.
Bolade Apithy, 6th in the world, was eliminated by Iranian Mohammad Rahbari (15-13) in the individual saber tournament.
Just like her compatriot Coraline Vitalis who, earlier, bit the dust with a sword.
We will also return to the boxing ring.
Samuel Kistohurry (-57 kg), from Pessac (Gironde) was eliminated from the start.
Coraline Vitalis got knocked out on the first lap.
Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP FABRICE COFFRINI
The program for the rest of the day
- Team archery (M / F): mixed team final (9.45am)
- Judo (F): semi-finals and final -48 kg (10h00)
- Judo (M): semi-finals and final -60 kg (10h00)
- Basket 3x3 (F): United States - France (10:55) and France - Italy at 2:25 p.m.
- Fencing (H): semi and final saber (11h00)
- Fencing (F): semi and final épée (11h00)
- Swimming (M and F): start of the series (12:20) with Marie Wattel, David Aubry, Fantine Lesaffre and Théo Bussière.
- Volley (M): United States - France (qualifying, 2:45 p.m.)
