GABRIEL JUTEAU REGAINS HIS BEARINGS IN PRAGUE
6 March 2022
Canadians Mohab ElNahas and Étienne Briand went head-to-head within the under-81 kg ultimate on the European Open in Prague, Czech Republic on Sunday. On the finish of a hard-fought duel, ElNahas was topped champion after scoring an ippon.
At the moment’s competitors was the second for ElNahas in his new weight class, and he proved to be a formidable opponent on the tatamis of the Czech Republic. Due to his environment friendly sport plan, the Montrealer received all six of his bouts, together with the gold medal ultimate in opposition to his good buddy Briand.
The 2 Canadians, who recurrently spar throughout coaching, each managed to launch assaults in the course of the ultimate bout, however in the long run, it was ElNahas’ technique that clinched it. He exercised persistence earlier than profiting from a gap within the third minute to throw his opponent to the bottom and win.
“It’s at all times a bit unusual to compete in opposition to a teammate, however I used to be actually decided to win right now. I felt sturdy bodily and knew I may beat him. I had the higher hand for many of the match and I adopted my sport plan to the letter. After I noticed a chance to get a very good maintain and throw him, I took it and scored the ippon,” stated the 25-year-old, whose final aim is to achieve the very best ranks of worldwide judo.
“I believe it was an incredible choice for me to maneuver all the way down to the under-81 kg class, and right now’s result’s an actual confidence booster for what’s to return. I do know what I’m able to and my judo is superb proper now. I’m going to maintain working towards my aim of reaching the highest eight on this weight division,” concluded ElNahas.
As for Briand, he received his second silver medal in as many weeks after his victory on the Warsaw Open final weekend. The Québécois as soon as once more demonstrated his experience by profitable his first 5 matches, together with two in extra time, earlier than shedding to his compatriot.
He put in a superb efficiency in opposition to Spain’s Alfonso Urquiza Solana, who’s ranked thirty fourth within the IJF worldwide rankings and who beat him within the gold medal ultimate final Sunday.
Seventh place for Keagan Younger
Keagan Younger (-90 kg) additionally had a very good day in Prague and completed seventh in his weight class, regardless of a minor damage. After receiving a first-round bye, the Ontarian beat Sweden’s Leonidas Hytonen and Serbia’s Darko Brasnjovic back-to-back to achieve the quarter-final, the place he was defeated by Aram Grigorian of the United Arab Emirates, who went on to win a bronze medal. Within the repechage, Younger incurred his second lack of the day to Wachid Borchashvili of Austria, who additionally acquired a bronze medal just a few moments later.
“Keagan fought rather well and I believe that had it not been for his damage, he would have made the highest three. He had some issue in his final two bouts and couldn’t assault the best way he needed to. He confirmed actual dedication right now,” stated coach Sasha Mehmedovic following the competitors.
Alexandre Arencibia and Louis Krieber-Gagnon additionally fought within the under-90 kg group right now however have been each halted within the second spherical and didn’t rank.
On the ladies’s facet, Alicia Fiandor (-70 kg), Coralie Godbout (-78 kg) and Mina Coulombe (-78 kg) all misplaced their first bouts of the day.
The Canadians will return house on Monday and resume coaching for numerous upcoming competitions.
