Lined up in Dushanbe to pick up points in the world rankings, the Frenchman won his third Grand Slam of the year at the end of a perfect day on Sunday.
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A day at work for Teddy Riner. The French judoka won the Tajikistan Grand Slam in Dushanbe, Sunday May 5, at the end of a controlled head and shoulders final against local Temur Rakhimov in the over 100 kg category. After two shido received by his opponent, the double Olympic individual champion concluded the deal after 2’35” with an ippon.
His fourth in as many fights. Before that, the Guadeloupean had easily dismissed the Turk Munir Ertug, the German Losseni Kone and the Russian surprise Denis Batchaev (129th in the world at 19 years old), in the last four after having eliminated the Finn Martti Puumalainen, last winner of the Masters and reigning European champion.
Riner could skip the Worlds
Thanks to this ideal course, Teddy Riner achieved his objective: to collect as many points as possible in the world rankings – 1,000 in this case – in order to almost secure his place among the eight seeds at the Paris 2024 Games this summer. A status which will allow him to avoid a first round during the Olympic tournament and to clear the way to the quarter-finals, with less renowned competitors.
This Grand Slam in Tajikistan could thus be the last for the 35-year-old fighter before this summer, unless he finally decides to participate in the world championships in Abu Dhabi at the end of May, to defend the 11th planetary crown won in Doha there is one year old. Winner of the Grand Slams in Paris in February and Antalya five weeks ago, he expressed a certain weariness, judging himself “fatigue” And “without desire”.
