Judo: Montpellier Blandine Pont forfeits the Abu Dhabi Worlds, we know the French selections

Blandine Pont, blessée, ne participera pas aux Mondiaux. MAXPPP – Laurent Lairys

Injured in the final of the European Championships, Blandine Pont must give up the Worlds, where 17 of the 18 French selections are known. While waiting for Teddy Riner's decision…

Seventeen of the 18 members of the French delegation to the Judo World Championships in Abu Dhabi (May 19-24), the final big meeting before the Olympics, are now known , while awaiting Teddy Riner's decision, indicated Tuesday the management of the Blues.

Of these 17 athletes, 9 are also selected for the Paris Games, including Clarisse Agbégnénou (-63 kg), Madeleine Malonga (-78 kg) and Luka Mkheidze (-60 kg) , who will aim for gold in the Emirates, to add to their record but also improve their world ranking for the Olympic tournament.

The 18th and last place, allocated to the men's selection, is still vacant, awaiting the decision of triple Olympic champion Teddy Riner, who has just won the Grand Slam in Dushanbe (Tajikistan ) and might want to take a breather.

"You saw it, there is one place left, that's what we agreed with Teddy and his staff& hellip; We will have a decision made together, and obviously it will come first from Teddy. We are all very calm", said Frédérique Jossinet, in charge of high level at the Federation, on Tuesday, noting that the closing date for registrations took place "ten days before" the competition, i.e. Thursday.

The French selection for the Worlds

Women (9):
Amandine Buchard (-52 kg), Faïza Mokdar (-57 kg), Priscilla Gneto (-57 kg), Clarisse Agbégnénou (-63 nou ;nbsp;kg), Marie-Eve Gahie (-70 kg), Margaux Pinot (-70 kg), Madeleine Malonga (-78 kg), Audrey Tcheuméo (-78  ;nbsp;kg) and Léa Fontaine (+78 kg).

Men (8):

Luka Mkheidze (-60 kg), Romain Valadier-Picard (-60 kg), Walide Khyar (-66 kg), Daikii Bouba (-66 kg), Joan-Benjamin Gaba (-73 kg), Alpha Diallo (-81 kg), Maxime-Gaël Ngayap Hambou (-90 kg) and Alexis Mathieu (-90 kg).

Waiting (maybe) Riner…

Teddy Riner, 35 years old, "had a pretty extraordinary competition (in Tajikistan). We saw his state of form, in his state of mind but also really from a physical and even technical-tactical point of view, where he was above everyone", noted the manager, interviewed on the sidelines of Blues training at the Insep.

"But sometimes you also need very strong periods of training, competitions' and then, at some point, come back down, have a good rest", she emphasized.

Among the women, a last minute change occurred with the withdrawal of Montpellier Blandine Pont (25 years old), recent vice-champion of Europe in – 48 kg but hit in one knee during her lost final. She is replaced by Priscilla Gneto, who will be aligned with Faïza Mokdar in – 57 kg.

This is a hard blow for Blandine

"It’s a hard blow for Blandine, but we hope that she will recover very quickly. In any case, it’s a good decision on his part to preserve his health and build the future", said Christophe Massina, the manager of the French team feminine.

Pont, 25, not selected for the Olympics, herself announced her withdrawal on Instagram, raising the possibility of a change of category in the future. &quot ;It's up to her to see what happens next, but whether she stays at 48 kg or goes to (less than) 52 kg, it's up to her a very strong, very complete girl", commented Frédérique Jossinet.

Agbégnénou aims for a 7th title

In Abu Dhabi, the hopes of gold medals among the women will rest in particular on the tricolor judo star Clarisse Agbégnénou (- 63 kg), who is going "clearly to win a seventh title", according to Christophe Massina.

But, last to win her selection for the Games, at the expense of Audrey Tcheuméo-whom she could find on her way to the Emirates, Madeleine Malonga (-78 kg) will also "go to the end".

"If I win, I would be super happy, (but) my goal, world championship or not, it remains unchanged, and it will be the 1st&nbsp ;August" at the Games, added the 30-year-old judokate, already titled at the 2019 Worlds.

For the men, Luka Mkheidze, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will go in search of a first world title. "I would really like to win this new medal. But, after that, the objective is still the Games", he admitted.