Judo - Luanda Open: Koffi Krémé and Dabonné Zoulehia strike gold

Ivory Coast shone at the Luanda Open in Angola, held from 8 to 9 April 2023, with two gold medals won by champions Koffi Krémé and Dabonné Zoulehia. The Ivorian fighters took 4 medals in all, including one silver and one bronze, won by Polneau Wilfried and Didié Guillaume respectively.

After cruising through the early rounds, Zoulehia beat Angola's Antonio Andreza in the women's -57kg final on penalties, 3 yellow cards. It is the Ivorian judoka's 3rd Open gold medal in 3 years. Koffi Krémé, the Ivory Coast champion, showed once again that he is one of the best fighters in the -100kg category in Africa. He was unstoppable in the early rounds and in the semi-final. In the final, he humbled Senegal's Ndiaye Lebasse with an ippon.

Elsewhere, Polneau had to settle for silver in the men's +100kg after losing his final to Senegal's Ndiaye Mbagnick. Dadié took bronze in the -73kg. Fofana Salimata (-52kg) and Dabonné Abraham (-81kg) finished 5th and 7th respectively in their categories.

With this performance, the Ivorian judokas have put the competition on notice ahead of the Abidjan African Open Seniors and the Africa Cadets-Juniors Championships next June. The first Open held on Ivorian soil, the tournament is an Olympic qualifier for Paris 2024. “We will have to repeat this same performance, or even better, at the Abidjan Open scheduled for next June. I am proud of my fighters”, said Dabonné Seydou, president of the Ivorian Judo Federation. Ivory Coast finished 3rd in the competition behind Angola and Senegal.

Sanh Séverin