The judo competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics continues to deliver intense matches and surprising outcomes. In the women’s -63kg category, French judoka Clarisse Agbégnénou, the reigning Olympic champion, has advanced to the semifinals. Agbégnénou’s path to the semifinals included victories over Israel’s Gili Sharir, Brazil’s Ketleyn Quadros, and Kosovo’s Laura Fazliu. The 31-year-old French champion, who gave birth to her daughter Athéna after the Tokyo Olympics and won a world title in 2023, is now on a mission to secure her first Olympic gold medal on home soil.In the same category, Mexican judoka Prisca Awiti has also reached the semifinals, defeating three opponents including Nigara Shaheen, Angelika Szymanska, and Lubjana Piovesana. Awiti will face Croatia’s Katarina Kristo in the semifinals, with at least a bronze medal now within her grasp.The men’s -81kg category saw mixed fortunes for different competitors. Brazilian Guilherme Schimidt, making his Olympic debut, was eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing to Italian Antonio Esposito. Meanwhile, French judoka Alpha Oumar Djalo, ranked 26th in the world, pulled off an upset by defeating the 6th-ranked Zelim Tckaev to advance to the quarterfinals.These developments have reshaped the medal prospects in both the men’s and women’s judo events, with established champions and rising stars alike vying for Olympic glory in Paris.
Key points
- Clarisse Agbégnénou, the reigning Olympic champion, has advanced to the semifinals in the -63kg judo category.
- Mexican judoka Prisca Awiti has also reached the semifinals in the -63kg category, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal.
- In the men’s -81kg category, Brazilian Guilherme Schimidt was eliminated in the quarterfinals, while French judoka Alpha Oumar Djalo advanced.
