This is what we call a cruel ending. Opposed to the Hauts-de-France franchise for the first day of the Pro Judo League this Wednesday, October 9, 2024 in Nogent-sur-Oise, the franchise of Juniville-Marnaval Grand Est narrowly lost (6-4).
Very little was decided between the two teams, and it was probably the experience of Hauts-de-France which ultimately tipped the scales. The absences of Andy Granda, world heavyweight champion, and Téo Lherbier, injured in the knee, did not help.
The judokas of the Grand Est bowed to the number of defeats but they scored more points than their opponents, proof that the gap was tiny. After the victory of Mathilde Chevalier (-52 kg), Jules Cymbert (-66kg), Ylona Wattecant (-57kg), Tanguy Gérard (-73kg) and Mathilde Briant (-63kg) were successively beaten. The locals, supported by their public, led 4-1 at the break.
A burst of vain pride
But the Juniville-Marnaval team did not disintegrate. She reacted beautifully with the successive victories of Lou L’Herbier (-81kg) and Inès Prévot (-70kg)putting their team back on track for victory. In vain, therefore, since Abdoul Drammeh (-90kg) and Émilien Vignon (+90kg) were unable to definitively turn the tide.
The team based in the Ardennes is off to a bad start in the competition despite its ambitions for the last four, given that Hauts-de-France was the most affordable team on paper of the four it will face in this group stage.
In any case, a new, decisive move awaits him. Tuesday October 15 in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Boissecond in the Pro League last year.
