It was perhaps not the color expected, but it has the merit of bringing France its first medal of the world championships, which have been taking place since Thursday in Tashkent (Uzbekistan).
Amandine Buchard, Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo last year, won the bronze medal in -52 kg on Friday.
At 27, the native of Noisy-le-Sec thus won her third world bronze medal after 2014 (in -48 kg) and 2018.
A day started with a victory (ippon) ahead of the 18-year-old Swiss, Binta Ndiaye, 3rd in the last Junior Worlds.
The French then disposed of the Spanish Estrella Lopez-Sheriff (3rd in Euro 2020) on a sweep.
In the quarter-finals, she had to draw on her reserves for the first time to dismiss the Brazilian Larissa Pimenta in golden score, after 6′37″ of combat.
BRONZE BUBUCHE!!🥉
SHE'S HERE!
Amandine Buchard (-52kg) wins the first French medal of these world championships.
🔥🇫🇷
Bravo Amandine!
👏#JudoWorlds #GoLesBleus #FierdEtreJudoka pic.twitter.com/bR91Lg7asu
- France Judo (@francejudo_) October 7, 2022
It was therefore before the long-awaited semi-final against the formidable Japanese Uta Abe.
The very one who had deprived her of Olympic gold in the final in Tokyo.
A new bitter and disputed fight.
The Japanese had struck first by quickly scoring waza-ari but the Habs, eager for revenge after the Olympic final, managed to come back and push her opponent to the golden score.
On the brink with two penalties, Abe still managed to get out of it, after 6′48″, thanks to a decisive uchi-mata.
A new big disappointment for Amandine Buchard who still had the resources and the guts to remobilize in the final for bronze against the Mongolian Khorloodoi Bishrelt.
A duel this time ended on waza-ari.
A victory which therefore offers him a new world medal and a first smile for the tricolor clan.