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Tribune News Network
Doha
Champions are made of sterner stuff!
So is Teddy Riner of France. A ten-time individual world, five-time European champion and double gold medallist at the Olympics, he barely needs an introduction in the sport of judo.
Yet, following a shock loss last year after a stupendous unbeaten nine years, Riner was faced with a challenge of returning to winning ways.
The French shed no less than 20 kilos on his way to Qatar. And on Wednesday, claimed his reward with a gold medal in the men’s blue ribbon (over 100kg) event at the IJF Doha World Judo Masters 2021 which concluded at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.
The 31-year-old Riner displayed the same tenacity that fetched him 154 victories during undisputed run since 2011 before two defeats last year broke the remarkable feat.
Confident and in control, he defeated Russia’s Inal Tasoev without much trouble to lead French gold rush on the final day of the three-day Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying event.
The French star dominated his counterpart completely with the terrific kumi-kata and after being penalised three times and disqualified, Tasoev offered the victory to Riner.
“It’s good to be back on top after a long gap and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” remarked the jubilant Frenchman.
“I was focused on getting the win in Doha and I’m so happy I succeeded. The opponent was strong, but I managed to outdo him. The venue was absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed fighting here. I always kept my focus and was intent only on winning the gold medal here,” Riner added.
Also, reigning world champion and world No. 1 in under 78 kg, Madeleine Malonga and European champion Romane Dicko (over 78) won titles for France, which topped the medals race with five golds, 1 silver and a bronze.
South Korea slipped to second with three gold medals with Japan securing third spot with two gold and five silver medals.
Malonga confirmed her status as top jukoka in her category with an outstanding performance throughout the final day. After winning all her preliminary matches by ippon, Malonga overcame a stiff battle with Japan’s Shori Hamada in the final to win gold medal.
“I am very happy. It was a difficult competition. It is the start of the year and it was important to win for me. It is a year of Olympics and since I am the world and European champion I wanted to win this event so I am now targeting the Olympic Games,” said Malonga.
“It was a big break during events because of the virus and was difficult to prepare but I trained daily for this event,” she added.
Dicko was also in top form as she eliminated Cuba’s Olympic and world champion Idalys Ortiz before eventually defeating Azerbaijan’s Iryna Kindzerska in the final.
Halfway of the regular time, Dicko scored a waza-ari that she followed to the floor to hold Kindzerska for ippon to confirm her first gold medal at the Masters.
Noel confirms Olympic berth with triumph
Meanwhile, Dutchman Noel Van T End booked his Olympic spot with under 90 title, defeating Georgia’s Beka Gviniashvili in the final.
Both the finalists put pressure on one another but Noel got an edge scoring a late waza-ari. The Dutchman denied pressure from his opponent and applied a lightening fast strangle for an ippon finish almost at the bell to seal his victory.
“This is a first tournament of the year and I am very happy to win a gold medal here. It is a big achievement in this Olympic year,” he said after his win.
“I was in top four and with these points which I got today I think I am safe and will go for the Olympics for sure. This is a very nice tournament and hospitality is very good and the weather here is very nice. The organisation is very good and I am happy to perform here again. I look forward to come here again for the World Championships in 2023.”
Gerogia’s Varlam Lipartelini won the under 100kg after beating Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. Gerogia finished fourth on the medals table with 2 gold, a silver and a bronze, with the Netherlands securing the fifth spot with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals.
The three-day Olympic qualifying event, featuring 399 athletes including 215 male and 184 female judokas from 69 countries was held under strict health safety measures.
Results
Men’s +100kg: Gold: Riner Teddy (France); Silver: Inal Tasoev (Russia); Bronze: Yakiv Khammo (Ukraine) and Henk Grol (Netherlands)
-100kgGold: Gold: Varlam Lipartelini (Georgia); Silver: Zelym Kotsoiev (Aze); Bronze: Peter Latchik (Israel) and Arman Adamian (Russia).
-90kgGold: Gold: Noel Van T End (Netherlands); Silver: Beka Gviniashvili (Gerogia); Bronze: Eduard Trippel (Germany) and Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) .
Women’s +78kg: Gold: Romane Dicko (France); Silver: Iryna Kindzerska (Aze); Bronze: Nihel Cheikh Rouhou (Tun) and Kayra Sayit (Turkey).
-78kg Gold: Madeleine Malonga (France); Silver: Shori Hamada (Japan); Bronze: Guusje Steenhuis (Netherlands), Loriana Kuka (Kos).
Medals Tally: 1. France (5 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze); 2. South Korea 3, 0, 0; 3. Japan 2, 5, 0; 4. Georgia 2, 1, 2; 5. Netherlands 1, 1, 5.
Doha
Champions are made of sterner stuff!
So is Teddy Riner of France. A ten-time individual world, five-time European champion and double gold medallist at the Olympics, he barely needs an introduction in the sport of judo.
Yet, following a shock loss last year after a stupendous unbeaten nine years, Riner was faced with a challenge of returning to winning ways.
The French shed no less than 20 kilos on his way to Qatar. And on Wednesday, claimed his reward with a gold medal in the men’s blue ribbon (over 100kg) event at the IJF Doha World Judo Masters 2021 which concluded at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.
The 31-year-old Riner displayed the same tenacity that fetched him 154 victories during undisputed run since 2011 before two defeats last year broke the remarkable feat.
Confident and in control, he defeated Russia’s Inal Tasoev without much trouble to lead French gold rush on the final day of the three-day Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying event.
The French star dominated his counterpart completely with the terrific kumi-kata and after being penalised three times and disqualified, Tasoev offered the victory to Riner.
“It’s good to be back on top after a long gap and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” remarked the jubilant Frenchman.
“I was focused on getting the win in Doha and I’m so happy I succeeded. The opponent was strong, but I managed to outdo him. The venue was absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed fighting here. I always kept my focus and was intent only on winning the gold medal here,” Riner added.
Also, reigning world champion and world No. 1 in under 78 kg, Madeleine Malonga and European champion Romane Dicko (over 78) won titles for France, which topped the medals race with five golds, 1 silver and a bronze.
South Korea slipped to second with three gold medals with Japan securing third spot with two gold and five silver medals.
Malonga confirmed her status as top jukoka in her category with an outstanding performance throughout the final day. After winning all her preliminary matches by ippon, Malonga overcame a stiff battle with Japan’s Shori Hamada in the final to win gold medal.
“I am very happy. It was a difficult competition. It is the start of the year and it was important to win for me. It is a year of Olympics and since I am the world and European champion I wanted to win this event so I am now targeting the Olympic Games,” said Malonga.
“It was a big break during events because of the virus and was difficult to prepare but I trained daily for this event,” she added.
Dicko was also in top form as she eliminated Cuba’s Olympic and world champion Idalys Ortiz before eventually defeating Azerbaijan’s Iryna Kindzerska in the final.
Halfway of the regular time, Dicko scored a waza-ari that she followed to the floor to hold Kindzerska for ippon to confirm her first gold medal at the Masters.
Noel confirms Olympic berth with triumph
Meanwhile, Dutchman Noel Van T End booked his Olympic spot with under 90 title, defeating Georgia’s Beka Gviniashvili in the final.
Both the finalists put pressure on one another but Noel got an edge scoring a late waza-ari. The Dutchman denied pressure from his opponent and applied a lightening fast strangle for an ippon finish almost at the bell to seal his victory.
“This is a first tournament of the year and I am very happy to win a gold medal here. It is a big achievement in this Olympic year,” he said after his win.
“I was in top four and with these points which I got today I think I am safe and will go for the Olympics for sure. This is a very nice tournament and hospitality is very good and the weather here is very nice. The organisation is very good and I am happy to perform here again. I look forward to come here again for the World Championships in 2023.”
Gerogia’s Varlam Lipartelini won the under 100kg after beating Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. Gerogia finished fourth on the medals table with 2 gold, a silver and a bronze, with the Netherlands securing the fifth spot with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals.
The three-day Olympic qualifying event, featuring 399 athletes including 215 male and 184 female judokas from 69 countries was held under strict health safety measures.
Results
Men’s +100kg: Gold: Riner Teddy (France); Silver: Inal Tasoev (Russia); Bronze: Yakiv Khammo (Ukraine) and Henk Grol (Netherlands)
-100kgGold: Gold: Varlam Lipartelini (Georgia); Silver: Zelym Kotsoiev (Aze); Bronze: Peter Latchik (Israel) and Arman Adamian (Russia).
-90kgGold: Gold: Noel Van T End (Netherlands); Silver: Beka Gviniashvili (Gerogia); Bronze: Eduard Trippel (Germany) and Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) .
Women’s +78kg: Gold: Romane Dicko (France); Silver: Iryna Kindzerska (Aze); Bronze: Nihel Cheikh Rouhou (Tun) and Kayra Sayit (Turkey).
-78kg Gold: Madeleine Malonga (France); Silver: Shori Hamada (Japan); Bronze: Guusje Steenhuis (Netherlands), Loriana Kuka (Kos).
Medals Tally: 1. France (5 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze); 2. South Korea 3, 0, 0; 3. Japan 2, 5, 0; 4. Georgia 2, 1, 2; 5. Netherlands 1, 1, 5.
