Clarisse Agbegnenou shares her golden moment with Paris at Judo Grand Slam

Clarisse Agbegnenou shares her golden moment with Paris at Judo Grand Slam
By Euronews
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Clarisse Agbegnenou was on top form as she took gold in the under 63 kilogram category at the Paris Judo Grand Slam

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Day one of the Paris Judo Grand Slam comes from the legendary Accor hotels arena where every Judoka dreams of winning gold.

Our woman of the day is France's reigning world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou. The under 63 kilogram fighter delighted the home crowd by putting on a fantastic show in the final against Tashiro Miku of Japan.

Agbegnenou never looked threatened and after taking a waza ari lead she could have held on for the win, but Agbegnenou wanted to win in style.

And this she did, an enormous ippon ending the contest in her favour and lifting the lid off the Accor hotels arena.

It was Agbegnenou's fourth Paris gold, but we never get weary of moments like this  ...  the Marseillaise played out to an arena full of french Judo fans.

"I’m so happy. It’s fantastic to have won here at home, in Paris, said Agbegnenou. "Thank you to all the arena who pushed me and encouraged me today. Paris is magic. The public of Bercy is magic. They push me and I hope they will do it until the end. I hope they are going follow me in the next competitions. It's great to feel their support''

Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport, Miri Regev, was present to award the under 73 kilogram gold medal to Kosovo's Akil Gjakova.

He was in fine form, taking his first world judo tour gold by defeating 2012 Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia by waza ari.

Gjakova became Kosovo's first male world judo tour gold medallist.

Gjakova  said: "It feels so good to have won the Grand Slam, this is my first medal in a Grand Slam and it's a gold. I'm very happy I had a very good day. I was in a good form. I beated an Olympic champion. It's really good and it gives me motivation."

The phenomenal 17 year old Daria Bilodid of the Ukraine continued her assault on the rankings list as she took gold here in Paris.

After shocking world champion Tonaki Funa of Japan at the semi-final stage, she showed her courage in the final, digging deep after going behind by a waza ari to Korea's Kang Yu Jeong

Moments later she secured what's becoming her trademark, Sangaku Gatame.

After 20 seconds she was the Paris Grand slam champion.

She was awarded her gold by IJF president Mr Marius Vizer.

Another youngster taking the world by storm is Japan's Abe Uta, who faced home favourite Amandine Bouchard in the final after demolishing the field throughout the day.

The match itself was less dramatic, decided by a third penalty to Bouchard.

Our move of the day comes from Abe's team mate Yoshida Tsukasa, who throw Portugal's Telma Monteiro with a superb uchimata. 

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