First medal for the tricolor delegation at the World Judo Championships. The French Shirine Boukli won silver this Sunday afternoon in the -48 kg category. The judoka thus won the first world medal of her young career.
Frenchwoman Shirine Boukli won the -48 kg silver medal on Sunday on the first day of the World Judo Championships in Doha. Boukli lost in the final to the two-time defending champion, Japan’s Natsumi Tsunoda, but still won the first world medal of her career.
-! ✊
Shirine Boukli (-48kg) lost in the final of these world championships against defending champion Natsumi Tsunoda (JPN).
Our French therefore ends up as vice-world champion! Well done Shirin! pic.twitter.com/a13DbeBj8P
— France Judo (@francejudo) May 7, 2023
Often cited among the favorites in major international competitions, Shirine Boukli struggled to realize her potential. Released from her first fight at the last World Championships as well as at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she finally shines on the planetary scene, just over a year from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Blandine Pont at the gates of the podium
The other tricolor engaged in the category, Blandine Pont, was beaten in the fight for the bronze medal. Revelation of the beginning of the year with three victories in Grand Slams, Pont (24) lost in the semi-final against Tsunoda. She then came up against another Japanese, Wakana Koga, in the fight for third place.