Djelika Diallo wins silver in taekwondo, the ninth medal for France

The Frenchwoman went to collect the ninth medal of the French delegation at the Grand Palais on Friday evening.

The ninth medal has fallen. After a big day and three fights, the French Djelika Diallo went to get a new trinket for the tricolor clan, silver, after the final of taekwondo K44 -65 kg (Unilateral disability of one arm or equivalent limitation due to an orthopedic disability or absence of toes significantly affecting the ability to mobilize the legs dynamically). Facing the Brazilian Ana Carolina Silva de Moura, the native of Stains gave her all but she ended up cracking in the last minute of the fight (13-7).

In front of the fervent public of the Grand Palais, Djelika Diallo lived a crazy day, before her disappointment in the last fight. Her adventure could have ended much earlier, in her first match, pushed to the golden round by the legend of the discipline, the Danish Lisa Kjaer, reigning Paralympic champion. A few hours later, in the semi-final, she imposed herself with authority against the Chinese Yinan Yao, a victory celebrated with passion by her coach Haby Niaré, herself Olympic vice-champion in Rio in 2016.

After the final, she also celebrated her medal with him, alongside her opponent. “The day was exceptional, in the morning I was really stressed because I had to take on the Olympic champion, I managed to beat her. After that I had set myself the goal of gold, I didn’t succeed, but I’m very proud of what I did”she declared, all smiles, on France 3 after her final.

At 19, she still won her first Olympic medal, for the first Games of her young career, and the first medal in the discipline for France. With this podium, Djelika Diallo completes a great day for the French delegation, which added six medals to its table, including a title.