Madeleine Malonga secures Olympic selection

French World champion Madeleine Malonga defeated World Judo Masters winner Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA) in a disappointing final as both judoka cancelled each other out and were reluctant to take any risks. World number one Malonga retained her Paris title by seeing off world number 13 Posvite, who moved up from -70kg to -78kg a year ago, on shidos to the frustration of the home crowd.

Malonga's red backpatch owner of the -78kg category will be unperturbed by the manner of her win while Posvite will wonder what could have been after a meteoric rise over the last 12 months in the heavier division.

In the first semi-final Malonga ousted teammate and former world champion Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) with ease in a passing of the torch. Tcheumeo was dismissed by ippon from a forceful o-soto-gari just 28 seconds into the contest.

In the second semi-final Abu Dhabi Grand Slam gold medallist Klara Apotekar (SLO) had to submit to the in-form Posvite on the edge of the area from a juji-gatame.

The first bronze medal was claimed by former world champion Umeki Mami (JPN) as her scheduled opponent Apotekar could not compete due to injury.                                

The second bronze medal contest featured Tcheumeo and former world bronze medallist Kaliema Antomarchi (CUB). Tcheumeo, who has slipped to being her country’s number three in one of their strongest categories, was outworked and outfoxed by the Cuban who scored a waza-ari from an o-uchi-gari waza-ari with 60 seconds left and was never troubled by her lauded French rival.