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Wakana Koga takes lightweight gold for Japan

Wakana Koga takes lightweight gold for Japan

17 Oct 2021 00:15
IJF Media team by Nicolas Messner
IJF Gabriela Sabau / International Judo Federation

The category U48kg at the Grand Slam of Paris was largely dominated by French athletes, since only Mélanie Vieu was blocked in the preliminary rounds, while the other three climbed on the podium. The day would have been perfect if the Japanese judoka, Wakana Koga, had not slipped in the middle to snatch the title from France. The latter quickly imposed her power against Mélanie Legoux Clément and pinned her down to make the Japanese anthem resonate in the Accor Arena.

The two bronze medals went to Shirine Boukli on her return to competition, after her defeat in the early rounds of the Tokyo Games and to Blandine Pont, winner of the Zagreb Grand Prix a few weeks ago.

Wakana Koga declared, "People here are amazing. I love the atmosphere. I enjoyed today so much."

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