Blandine Pont has been selected for the Doha World Judo Championships, which will be held in May, thanks to her recent good results.
Shirine Boukli will not be the only Frenchwoman to compete in the -48kg category at the World Judo Championships in Doha from May 7 to 14. His friend Blandine Pont has indeed been called to complete the list of selected, thanks to his recent results. The 24-year-old judoka has just won the Grand Slams in Paris and Tel Aviv in quick succession. The Montpellier has been gaining momentum in recent months, she who had been crowned champion of France in 2022, while finishing third in the Grand Slam of Paris and Tbilisi.
After bringing medals to France in the youth categories, with a silver medal at the European Cadet Championships in 2014 and a bronze medal at the European U23 Championships in 2020, Blandine Pont will therefore try to climb on an international podium among seniors. But the competition promises to be tough, starting with that of Shirine Boukli, who is none other than the 2020 and 2022 European champion.
“Give him experience in the biggest competitions”
“We have decided to select Blandine Pont for the last starting place. Indeed, Blandine won the Paris Grand Slam earlier this month and repeated her performance twelve days later at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam. At the top level, it’s important to chain performances and that’s what she managed to do.
In addition, among the current group, she is the only one who has not participated in world championships and with a view to the Paris 2024 Games, we must give her experience in the biggest competitions. “, said Frédérique Jossinet, president of the selection committee. In addition, Astride Gneto (-52kg), Priscilla Gneto (-57kg), Manon Deketer (-63kg), Margaux Pinot (-70kg) and Madeleine Malonga (-78kg) have been selected as reservists. Priscilla Gneto, Margaux Pinot and Coralie Hayme will participate in the mixed team competition.
