PSG judo does not take off. The club of the capital, of which members of the Olympic medalist judokas like Teddy Riner are members, Romane Dicko, Marie-Eve Gahié or Luka Mkheidze, is a wind against the reform, wanted by the French judo federation, the French team championships, and the Judo Pro League. So far, this mixed team competition created three years ago, was a closed league, therefore not compulsory, in which the smallest structures participated, in the region.
The competition, whose big rebellious clubs are trying to prevent entry into force this year, resumes the format of the team’s team test and has five to six meetings during the season through France. Above all, “la reform, voted in general assembly on April 13, makes club participation compulsory in judo pro league and makes it the only way to qualify for the European Cup“, explained PSG judo during a press point.
A reform denounced by Djamel Bouras, its president, which evokes a choice “incomprehensible”. “The clubs, and especially those of high level, have not been concerted. More than 90% of the athletes of the French team, all clubs combined, are against. None want to participate. We will not be done”, protests the 1996 Olympic champion, who nuances however by recalling that he is not “Not against the Federation”.
According to him, adding between “Five and six competitions a year, at athletes who are preparing for the European and world championships, and who already have selection tournaments, is very complicated. It is even dangerous because the risk of injury is more important. We shoot ourselves in the foot”, exposes the one who fears that this format “Kill certain categories” Not concerned by Judo Pro League.
According to Djamel Bouras, there is also a risk that this competition – which brings together high -level athletes and others from a lower level – causes dangerous and unspeakable gestures that can injure the elites. “A judoka who has nothing to lose, and who faces Teddy Riner, will try a movement to surprise him and can hurt him.”
“The problem is the addition of dates in an already busy calendar, confirms PSG judoka, Walide Khyar. In a season, I have an average of 10 to 12 competitions. This reform would add me half more. This model, which professionalizes judo, is interesting. But on the other side, there is more risk of injury. Participation in Pro League is paid right now, when many of those who participated are injured. ” The recent bronze medalist at the European Championships in Podgorica (Montenegro) recognizes, that in the state, it is thus difficult to consider Judo Pro League as a major meeting, “Since there are no points in the classification, nor consequence on the selection”.
PSG Judo regrets that the French Judo Federation has not made official communication with clubs. Thus, after a long open letter addressed to the president of the French Federation of Judo, Stéphane Nomis, on March 18, several clubs were also signatories of a press release, published on March 29, entitled “Response to the intervention of the president of the FFJDA”.
-This letter, signed by 18 clubs including PSG judo and that Franceinfo: Sport was able to consult, denounces a “Democratic process [qui] has not been respected. This reform is an arbitrary choice, imposed without collaborative work. Under the guise of innovation, you impose a vertical vision, without real consultation. No one is opposed to the modernization of French judo, but it cannot be done to the detriment of its history, its structures, and its principles “, Is it written.
“Under the guise of wanting to energize French judo, you risk rushing its weakening. You will make clubs disappear, discourage judokas, weaken the elite.”
18 judo clubs signatories to a press releaseFor the attention of the president of the FFJAD
But for the president of the federation, this problem only concerns a handful of judokas: those likely to compete in the international championships and which are mostly based in Paris. According to him, more modest clubs are delighted on the contrary to be able to compete in more competitions in France, and in particular in their regions.
“It is not easy to find a balance between the very high level, like PSG, and othersexplains Stéphane Nomis, in comments reported by AFP. I can’t only do depending on PSG. I have all the other clubs to keep alive “. Several clubs have indeed signed a press release to salute “A positive impact on the development of judo”valuing local structures.
“For too long, clubs have seen their best judokas trained to be systematically recruited by major Parisian structures”they regret. “Thanks to this reform, we can offer our athletes for development prospects at the highest level without having to leave their training club.”
If for the moment the dialogue between the clubs and the FFJDA is at a standstill, Walide Khyar, in his capacity as a new representative of the athletes, says that Stéphane Nomis wishes “Set up a dialogue with clubs” in order to discuss “Calendar and compatibility” of this new format “In the coming weeks”. The CNOSF ordered the implementation of a conciliation procedure.
