“The opportunity to come and support Montpellier during a spectacular evening”, the Judo Pro League is making its return in a new format

Arthur Combeau avec Emma Melis et Eva Grassin. MJO

Montpellier Judo Olympic launches its campaign, Wednesday at 7pm at the Palais des sports Coubertin, during the first day of the French mixed professional team championship. Interview with Montpellier coach Arthur Combeau.

What is Montpellier's objective for this 3rd edition of the Judo Pro League ?

We are facing two Parisian clubs (Chilly-Mazarin and Asnières) who are going down to Montpellier. We will then go to Bègles and Nantes. This draw is not easy but we are capable of getting through it. This year, the goal is to qualify for the quarter-finals. During the first two editions, we were eliminated in the group stage. We recruited accordingly (Sarah Bothy, Anthony Tama, Hugo Metifiot) in addition to the club's athletes, three of whom are at INSEP (Emma Melis, Eva Grassin, Hugo David).

The 2023 edition was difficult for you…

We knew it would be complicated against Nice and Blanc-Mesnil who ended up qualifying for the final four. Nice even won the Judo Pro League. Even if the scores seemed heavy, we fought well with a very young team that gained experience. We reaped the benefits of this experience at the end of last season and also for this new edition of the competition. Today, our youngsters have matured. With this new format that leaves more possibilities, we want to be ambitious.

How did you build your team of 10 judokas ?

If you want to perform, you need high-level athletes. This year, I have 10 athletes capable of winning matches. For example, in +70kg, Omayma Sabhi is from Montpellier, originally from the Paillade district, and capable of bringing home points.

You will be competing in a brand new Palais des Sports Pierre-de-Coubertin

With the president of the MJO Christel Boxberger-Lavaud, we decided to make entry free. The goal is to fill the hall, to have supporters who can push the team.

With this competition, we can go and watch judo like we go and watch football, handball or rugby in Montpellier…

That is the goal of the French Judo Federation in creating the Judo Pro League. Even for us judokas, a classic judo competition can be long and boring. Here, the public comes to support a team during a spectacular evening with 10 fights. It also allows us to be at home, in Montpellier, and for the athletes to fight in their city. The fact of being in Coubertin in the Paillade district is a plus for our club.

The format is similar to the team event at the Olympic Games, which can attract people who watched the French team's gold medal in Paris this summer on television…

It's an opportunity to come and watch a mixed team judo event while supporting your club and your city. Members of other clubs in Montpellier and the surrounding area are also expected in the stands.

The Judo Pro League is the perfect start to your season…

Let's not forget that the French championships are coming up fast and are very important. The Judo Pro League livens up the start of the season. We want to be efficient.

Practical information

Formula: The Judo Pro League is the French championship for mixed professional teams. With a single pool of 14 teams, the top eight qualify for the quarter-finals. In the elimination phase, each team meets four different opponents. Ten fights (5 women, 5 men) per match.

Program (home matches at the Palais des Sports Coubertin in Montpellier): MJO – Chilly-Mazarin, October 9 (7 p.m.); MJO – Asnières, October 15 (7 p.m.); Bègles – MJO, November 12; Nantes – MJO, November 19. Quarter-finals: January 6 and 7. Final four: January 18 at the Paris Dojo.

Montpellier Judo Olympic Composition : – 52kg: Sarah Bothy, – 66kg : Mickaël Hello, – 57kg: Emma Melis, – 73kg: Hugo David, – 63kg: Eva Grassin, – 81kg: Anthony Tama, – 70kg: Camille Meyer, – 90kg: Hugo Metifiot, +70kg: Omayma Sabhi, +90kg: Angel Gustan

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