Sixth world title for Clarisse Agbégnénou! Imperial throughout the day despite long and hard-fought fights, the Frenchwoman added another gold medal to her record, the 17th in a major competition. For the France team, it is the 4th medal of these World Championships in Doha, the first gold, after the silver of Shirine Boukli on Sunday and the bronze of Walide Khyar and Amandine Buchard on Monday.
Already assured of an eighth world medal thanks to her victory following a devastating ippon against Austria's Lubjana Piovesana in the semifinals, the Frenchwoman perfectly controlled her final against Slovenia's Andreja Leski in the -63 kg category. Undefeated in three confrontations against this opponent, Clarisse Agbégnénou was patient to win. With 30 seconds to go, she knocked down her opponent, scoring a waza-ari, before immobilizing him to end the fight.
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This new title is a great reward for Clarisse Agbégnénou who had a delicate start to the season because of her disagreement with the French Judo Federation about the brand of her kimono. The Frenchwoman, who had chosen to wear the kimono of her equipment manufacturer (Mizuno) and not that of the France team (Adidas) at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, had been deprived of coach and financial aid. An agreement had finally been reached, especially following the return of Teddy Riner with the three-stripe brand. This victory, acquired with a federal coach in his corner, definitively closes a complicated chapter for Clarisse Agbégnénou and her federation.
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The already exceptional record of the double Olympic champion is therefore growing even more. In total, the judokate won 24 medals in major competitions including 15 gold. At the Worlds, she has 13 charms amassed including 8 gold, team and individual events combined.
The other French in contention on Wednesday, Alpha Djalo, lost in the third round to Korean Joohwan Lee in less than 81 kg. On Thursday, three members of this France team will tread the tatamis of Doha: Marie-Ève Gahié in less than 70 kg, Alexis Mathieu and Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou in less than 90 kg.