DOHA (Qatar): Four-time world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou said that she would do everything to become Olympic champion after picking up women’s Under-63 kg gold in International Judo Federation (IJF) Doha Masters at the Lusail Sports Arena on Tuesday evening.
“When I want something, I’m going for it like hundred percent even more. And it’s like, ‘OK, I want to be Olympic champion’. I’m going to do everything to be Olympic champion,” said Clarisse, who defeated world No.2 Nabekura Nami of Japan in the final.
Despite the difficult year due to Covid10, the 28-year-old is determined to remain hungry for success.
“I have [been] training and I want to be a big champion,” added the 28-year-old Frenchwoman.
The 2016 Olympic Games silver medalist went into her preliminary round bouts as a favourite and qualified for the final although she did not win all her matches by ippon.
The Rio 2016 silver medallist, the top seed in the class, was pushed to golden score by Nabekura but triumphed after 2:41 of the extra period.
Agbegnenou’s route to the final was nearly ended at the first hurdle after a first-round bye, as Britain’s Lucy Renshaw pushed her to golden score before the Frenchwoman scored a waza-ari.
Andreja Leski of Slovakia and Sanne Vermeer of The Netherlands took bronze.
The second day’s action produced some upset results with Olympic champion and three-time world champion Ono Shohei of Japan missed out on the podium.
Joining her was 2016 Olympic winner Tina Trstenjak (Slovenia) and European champion Martina Trajdos (Germany).
Japan’s Ono Yoko, a two-time world champion in the mixed team event, fought her way to win gold in under-70 kg.
Ono defeated Russia’s Madina Taimazova in the final with a ne-waza takedown. Kim Polling of Netherlands and Germany’s Giovanna Scoccimarro took bronze.
An upsets world champion Soichi
There was a shock in the men’s under-73 kg final, as world number two and 2017 world champion Hashimoto Soichi was defeated by South Korea’s An Chang-rim.
Khikmatillokh Turaev of Uzbekistan and Igor Wandtkeof Germany claimed the bronze medals.
Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia claimed victory in the men’s under-81 kg. The recently-crowned European champion took down Frank De Wit of the Netherlands to score a win.
Ivaylo Ivanov of Bulgaria and Sagi Muki of Israel took the bronze medals.
South Korea lead the medal tally with three gold, two for Japan and France, one for Kosovo and Georgia.
So far, 16 countries have opened their medal account with the last day’s qualification round already underway today.
