World Judo Championships: the French team in search of titles in Baku

The World Judo Championships begin on Sunday, October 4 in Azerbaijan, until the 10. Of the 14 world leaders (one per weight category), 12 made the trip to Baku. Proof that this meeting on the edge of the Caspian Sea is the most important since the Paris Games.

On the French side, only Teddy Riner is missing, missing because he has not sufficiently recovered from a shoulder injury. For the others, who are aiming for Los Angeles in two years, it is better to avoid poor performance in Azerbaijan, warns Stéphane Nomis, the president of the French Judo Federation. "We have to show that we are already ready, that we are already in the race for the Olympic Games. It's a championship, it's not a preparation tournament. You represent France, it's forbidden to lose in the first round. It would give a sign, such a bad one, that you are capable of losing in the first round of the Olympic Games."

The 17 tricolor judokas entered therefore all have the mission of aiming for medal fights. A message well received by the general manager of the Blues, Frédérique Jossinet: “The president (of the Federation) announced four gold medals and as many finals and medals as possible, so I heard it well and the team managers heard it well too!”, she smiles.

“It’s a world championship two years before the Olympic Games, so beyond the raw results, we will also collect indicators, elements to know where this great French team is and we will take stock of the situation right after.”

The last crossing point dates back to the 2024 Games, on the tatami installed under the Eiffel Tower. Ten medals won, but only two gold thanks largely to Teddy Riner, who was largely absent from these Worlds. It is therefore above all the French women's team, led by Lucie Décosse, which will carry these ambitions: "In this Olympiad, we are also in the idea of going more and more for gold, because that is what was lacking a little in the last Games, out of nine selected. We have six who are already world medalists in the Olympiad. There are plenty of countries which would dream of having this team in a World Championship. world. We have it. Now we want titles too!”

Clarisse Agbégnénou, Joan-Benjamin Gaba, Romane Dicko and Shirine Boukli, who launch hostilities on Sunday, are among the main French chances if the French team achieves its objective of four gold medals. It would equal a record that has stood since the World Championships in Paris, 15 years ago.