Saint-Gratien Martial Arts Club Wins French Junior Men’s Team Championship in Thrilling Final

Par

Joseph CANU

Published on June 13, 2024 at 9:38 p.m. See my news Follow La Gazette du Val d’Oise

She only needed 32 seconds to win the title of French junior men’s team champion. At the end of a day of exceptional intensity, the Saint-Gratien Martial Arts club (Amsg) led by waza-ari in the decisive fight of its final against JC Chilly-Mazarin Morangis. Raphaël Synold (3rd in France juniors in -60 kg) managed to surprise the solid Tanguy Malidin (French Ugsel cadet champion in 2018 and 2019).

Close first round

Dominant and without the slightest shido, he seemed to be flying towards success. But his opponent looked for melee and inflicted ippon on ko-soto-gake. Cruel !

It’s a frustrating ending, but it shouldn’t erase the point. This is our third top 8 in a row (5th in 2022, 7th in 2023 and 2nd in 2024) and we had a fantastic day worthy of our cadets, who were French champions in 2014 and 2022. Next year, the structure of our junior team will be the same with two exceptions and we will aim for the title.

Ouassini Bentot, sports director of the club

The Gratienno team, which brought together Raphaël Synold and Louis Guilhon (-60 kg), Sevak Bagdasarov and Nils Njike Mbiafu (-66 kg), Enzo Gachet (-73 kg), Jason Okoyé and Baptiste Briand (-81 kg) and Keziah Harvent (+81 kg), had all the emotions… From the first round! “We were led 1-0 by Vaucluse Grand Avignon, but won 3-2 with a final victory for Sevak in 10 seconds,” remembers Youssef Drif, one of the group’s coaches.

Executioner of the tenant

The Amsg then eliminated the Flam 91 of Farès Mekhoukh (No. 2 in -100 kg) once again in a 5th quick fight (from Jason Okoyé this time) before dominating Juniville (3-1) and Asnières, champion of France in title (3-2).

After Keziah’s setback against Maxence Bordin (world No. 4 in -100 kg), the team remained united. Raphaël managed to defeat Abdallah Saoud (2023 French junior vice-champion -60 kg), then Sevak, and to beat Antonin Elion Gambou on penalties. The match continued until the 5th game and there Jason scored waza-ari with three seconds remaining.

Ouassini Bentot.

In the final, Am Saint-Gratien trailed 2-0 before equalizing thanks to Jason Okoyé and Heziah Harvent (on a super uchi-mata), but suffering the final twist.

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2024-06-13 19:51:16
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