Destination Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain Judo
Paris Saint-Germain Judo will be taking part in the Champions League, the major continental competition between clubs, on Saturday 21st December in Montpellier (France). 12 judokas will make up the mixed team of the Rouge et Bleu delegation, which won the women's title last year.
The Champions League format is changing this year, bringing together male and female athletes in a mixed competition, as is the case in major international events.
The group that will be defending Parisian colours in this tournament is made up of 6 women and 6 men. The recent Olympic mixed team champions, Romane Dicko, Marie-Ève Gahié, Walide Khyar and Alpha Djalo, are all part of the Paris squad.
The Rouge et Bleu will be accompanied by coaches Damiano Martinuzzi, Baptiste Leroy and Nicolas Mossion.
All the events will take place on Saturday 21st December at Montpellier's FDI Stadium.
A total of 11 French and European clubs will be taking part in the competition, including Judo Club Red Star Belgrade and Golden Gori Judo Club.
Last year, Paris Saint-Germain Judo won gold for the women and bronze for the men at the event held in Belgrade (Serbia).
Earlier in its history, the Club has already shone in Europe with a team title (1995) and two runners-up finishes (1997 and 1998). The team from the capital was led by David Douillet, double Olympic champion in 1996 (+95kg) and 2000 (+100kg), Cécile Nowak, Olympic champion in 1992 (-48kg), Frédéric Demontfaucon, world champion in 2001 (-90kg), and the current President of the judo section, Djamel Bouras, Olympic champion in 1996 (-78kg).
Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League squad:
Faiza Mokdar (-57kg), Priscilla Gneto (-57kg), Walide Khyar (-73kg), Tatsuki Ishihara (JPN, -73kg), Margaux Pinot (-70kg), Marie-Ève Gahié (-70kg), Alpha Djalo (-90kg), Sanshiro Murao (JPN, -90kg), Romane Dicko (+70kg), Coralie Haymé (+70kg), Aleksa Mitrovic (+90kg) and Alisher Yusupov (UZB, +90kg).