Yet again, the men’s French team has surpassed expectation. After the silver medal from Joan-Benjamin GABA on day three of the judo event, Maxime Gael NGAYAP HAMBOU followed suit as an unseeded athlete, ranked #38 in the world, to come through for home town glory.
Ngayap Hambou defeated the current European Champion, Eljan HAJIYEV (AZE) before beating out Theodoros TSELIDIS (GRE) in the quarter final. There he met MURAO Sanshiro (JPN) and fell in to the fight for the bronze medal. Rafael MACEDO (BRA) has also been having a strong day and it looked like he may have been walking away with the medal as he tied up his French opponent, then mate was called.
For many watching there was some confusion as to why they action had been stopped, but the referees had stood the pair up, both with two shidos, to award a third to Macedo. During his process in ne waza, he had committed a gripping infringement, and so was penalised.
This great disappointment for Macedo lead to glory for Ngayap Hambou and a seventh medal for Team France in the judo alone!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen