Behind RSC Montreuil and Arts Martiaux Saint-Gratien, who made it four in a row in the qualifiers, it's FLAM 91 who are in the best position, even before their final match against Judo Nice Métropole on January 13. «As soon as the draw was made, we knew we'd have to make sure of the first three days, especially the Essonne derby against JC Chilly-Mazarin Morangis. (7-3 victory, Editor's note), says president Simon Soubiran. Between the January national training camps with the French team and the prospect of the Paris Grand Slam - five selected for the club - at the beginning of February, we wanted to approach the reception of Nice, a big client in this Judo Pro League, in the most comfortable position possible.» Without losing sight of the goal of a perfect record, which would undoubtedly earn them a quarter at home, «It's a great opportunity for us to bring together our young practitioners, our volunteers and our champions for one evening. 

 

 

 

Top 4 in the sights 

 

Despite a more restrained collective than in the past, in order to push the individualization sliders even further, the Noir et Or have so far succeeded in blending their historical pillars - Ibrahim Keita and Francis Damier in the lead - with their triumphant youth, notably embodied by Fina Pamédie Katendi Nzuzi and Yvana Kamga Ngangoum. And with its two Olympic medallists, Shirine Boukli and Luka Mkheidze (in the -66kg class against Chilly-Mazarin to prepare for his international comeback), and its two recent French champions - Chloé Devictor in the -57kg class and Mathéo Akiana Mongo in the +100kg class - the second half of the season is shaping up nicely. «Our ambition is to support each athlete in his or her personal project, and the Judo Pro League should also serve us for that, over and above the visibility that the competition offers our structure.» First objective: to erase for good the disappointment of last year's cruel quarter-final defeat by Auxerre Judo (3-5). This means putting in a solid performance against the Azuréens next week...