Riner Makes a Golden Roar As Doha World Judo Masters 2021 Conclude

Swede Elias Ymer tops Japan’s Taro Daniel to seal Australian Open berth in Doha THURSday, JANUARY 14, 2021 page 14

HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee, awarded the men’s +100kg event winners at the IJF Doha World HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, attended the IJF Doha Judo Masters 2021 Championship which concluded at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall on Wednesday. World Judo Masters 2021 and honoured winners of the men’s -90kg event. Riner makes a golden roar as Doha World Judo Masters 2021 conclude

Tribune News Network Doha

Champions are made of sterner stuff! So is Teddy Riner of France. A ten-time individual world, five-time European champion and double gold medallist at the Olympics, he barely needs an introduction in the sport of judo. Yet, following a shock loss last year after a stupendous unbeaten nine years, Riner was faced with a challenge of returning to winning ways. The French shed no less than 20 kilos on his way to Qatar. And on Wednesday, claimed his reward with a gold medal in the men’s blue rib- bon (over 100kg) event at the IJF Doha World Judo Masters 2021 which concluded at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee, and Marius Vizer, President, The 31-year-old Riner dis- International Judo Federation, watch proceeedings on the final day of the three-day Tokyo 2020 Olympics played the same tenacity that qualifying event at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall on Wednesday. fetched him 154 victories during undisputed run since 2011 before two defeats last year broke the remarkable feat. Confident and in control, he defeated Russia’s Inal Ta- soev without much trouble to lead French gold rush on the final day of the three-day To- kyo 2020 Olympics qualifying event. The French star dominat- ed his counterpart completely with the terrific kumi-kata and after being penalised three times and disqualified, Tasoev offered the victory to Riner. “It’s good to be back on top after a long gap and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Ten-time individual world, five-time European champion and Olympics double gold medallist Teddy Riner of Games,” remarked the jubi- France (in white) fights Russian Inal Tasoev in the men’s +100kg gold medal bout at the IJF Doha World Judo lant Frenchman. Masters 2021 – a Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying event – at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall on Wednesday. “I was focused on getting the win in Doha and I’m so preliminary matches by ippon, to hold Kindzerska for ippon these points which I got today happy I succeeded. The op- Malonga overcame a stiff battle to confirm her first gold medal I think I am safe and will go ponent was strong, but I man- with Japan’s Shori Hamada in at the Masters. for the Olympics for sure. This aged to outdo him. The venue the final to win gold medal. is a very nice tournament and was absolutely fantastic and I “I am very happy. It was a Noel confirms Olympic hospitality is very good and really enjoyed fighting here. I difficult competition. It is the berth with triumph the weather here is very nice. always kept my focus and was start of the year and it was im- Meanwhile, Dutchman The organisation is very good intent only on winning the portant to win for me. It is a year Noel Van T End booked his and I am happy to perform gold medal here,” Riner added. of Olympics and since I am the Olympic spot with under 90 here again. I look forward to Also, reigning world cham- world and European champion title, defeating Georgia’s Beka come here again for the World pion and world No. 1 in under I wanted to win this event so I Gviniashvili in the final. Championships in 2023.” 78 kg, Madeleine Malonga and am now targeting the Olympic Both the finalists put Gerogia’s Varlam Li- European champion Romane Games,” said Malonga. pressure on one another but partelini won the under 100kg Dicko (over 78) won titles “It was a big break during Noel got an edge scoring a after beating Azerbaijan’s for France, which topped the events because of the virus late waza-ari. The Dutchman Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. Nasser Al Khelaifi, President, Paris Saint-Germain, and Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation medals race with five golds, 1 and was difficult to prepare denied pressure from his op- Gerogia finished fourth on after awarding the women’s 78kg podium finishers at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall on Wednesday. silver and a bronze. but I trained daily for this ponent and applied a light- the medals table with 2 gold, South Korea slipped to event,” she added. ening fast strangle for an ip- a silver and a bronze, with the Results Adamian (Russia). Sayit (Turkey). second with three gold medals Dicko was also in top pon finish almost at the bell Netherlands securing the fifth Men’s +100kg: Gold: Riner -90kgGold: Gold: Noel Van T -78kg Gold: Madeleine Ma- with Japan securing third spot form as she eliminated Cuba’s to seal his victory. spot with a gold, a silver and Teddy (France); Silver: Inal End (Netherlands); Silver: Beka longa (France); Silver: Shori with two gold and five silver Olympic and world champion “This is a first tournament five bronze medals. Tasoev (Russia); Bronze: Yakiv Gviniashvili (Gerogia); Bronze: Hamada (Japan); Bronze: medals. Idalys Ortiz before eventually of the year and I am very hap- The three-day Olympic Khammo (Ukraine) and Henk Eduard Trippel (Germany) and Guusje Steenhuis (Nether- Malonga confirmed her defeating Azerbaijan’s Iryna py to win a gold medal here. qualifying event, featuring 399 Grol (Netherlands) Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) . lands), Loriana Kuka (Kos). status as top jukoka in her Kindzerska in the final. It is a big achievement in this athletes including 215 male -100kgGold: Gold: Varlam Women’s +78kg: Gold: Romane Medals Tally: 1. France (5 Gold, 1 category with an outstanding Halfway of the regular Olympic year,” he said after and 184 female judokas from Lipartelini (Georgia); Silver: Dicko (France); Silver: Iryna Silver, 1 Bronze); 2. South Korea 3, performance throughout the time, Dicko scored a waza-ari his win. 69 countries was held under Zelym Kotsoiev (Aze); Bronze: Kindzerska (Aze); Bronze: Nihel 0, 0; 3. Japan 2, 5, 0; 4. Georgia final day.A fter winning all her that she followed to the floor “I was in top four and with strict health safety measures. Peter Latchik (Israel) and Arman Cheikh Rouhou (Tun) and Kayra 2, 1, 2; 5. Netherlands 1, 1, 5.