700 judokas are expected this weekend of October 19 and 20, near Cormelles-le-Royal. “We are going to have a little more registered than last year”rejoices Bruno Desessard, federal technical manager of the Calvados Judo Department Committee.
An unmissable event on the national scene for many years, the 19th edition of the label excellence juniors tournament will once again put the young Norman shoots in the spotlight on Sunday. “It’s a tournament that allows them to start scoring points for possible selection for the French championshipsrecalls Desessard. It’s a tough tournament that is anchored in habits. »
Among the headliners of this meeting of French judokas, there will be Liam Magloire La Greve (-90 kg), bronze medalist at the French championships. But also the Niortaise Léonie Minkada-Caquineau, cadet world vice-champion (individual and team) in Lima (Peru), at the end of August 2024, who will fight in juniors + 78 kg. Or Clarisse Carillon (-57 kg), one of the great hopes of French judo who brought home the bronze medal from the European Championship in Sofia (Bulgaria) at the end of June.
Normandy will not be left out, with among its leading figures Sofiane Boudjelal (-60 kg), Valère Soëte (-60 kg), Adlan Akmedov (-66 kg) and Kylian Nze Bekale (-73 kg).
On Saturday, the regional cadet circuit is replaced by a national tournament. “We made this choice, purely sporting, to offer a tough tournament for the juniors at the start of the season”adds Bruno Desessard.
“What’s also great is that it’s also the opportunity to see former world or Olympic medalists, who are present on the set to follow their young ones,” slips the technical framework. Last year, Lucie Décosse, Olympic champion at the London Olympics in 2012 (- 70 kg), was for example present in Calvados.
