Previously, as if he hadn't warmed up enough, Toma had fought a battle of 8'39 (!) against the German Udsilauri (21 years old/n°34), whom he had beaten last year at the World Cup, in Doha, and at the Euro, in Montpellier. From start to finish, the Brussels player was the most enterprising, but had a narrow escape at the start of overtime, when his opponent destabilized him. Fortunately, Toma landed on his stomach and not his back… As he began to struggle, the referee ended up sanctioning the German with a third penalty for passivity. It was time !
Gaby Willems, lucid after the Euro: “I still lack training”
In -90kg, Sami Chouchi was opposed in the first round to the Bosnian Miletic (25 years old/n°71), whom he had already beaten last year, in… Zagreb (Grand Prix). And the Brussels resident confirmed this victory with an immobilization which earned him a waza-ari by… a second. The Bosnian managed to escape, pushing Sami to continue. And our compatriot had a narrow escape on a move from his rival a few seconds from the end! But it was he who had the right to challenge the Georgian Bekauri (23 years old/n°1), Olympic champion…
We detected a little tension between the two judokas, the Georgian wary of the Belgian. But Bekauri quickly reassured himself by returning Sami to the ground. Waza-ari. The Brussels resident escaped twice again by managing to catch up at the last minute with atypical attacks from his opponent. But he still achieved his goals by pinning Sami to the ground with another reversal movement, close to wrestling. The matter was unfortunately settled, our compatriot saluting his winner with fair play.
In -78 kgVicky Verschaere lost straight away and by ippon against the Russian Kantsavaya (25 years old/n°38), fifth in Paris.
This Euro 2024 will obviously not leave a good memory for the Belgian delegation. But other deadlines are coming with the World Cup and the Games, provided you qualify…
Judo: Verstraeten and… Salens were unable to reach the final phase at the Euro
